There was no Santa Claus
no reindeer
and no wonderful workshop
hidden at the North Pole.

All of the Santas
standing on all of the corners
were just fat old men
with elastic beards
in off-red suits,
ringing their bells for no reason.

No one would slide down the chimney;
the cookies would be uneaten;
there would be no new bicycle
to ride in the morning,
and no reason to stay up the night.