Christmas Shopping at the Dollar General

Daddy gave me twenty dollars to Christmas

shop this year,

Gotta make it do for seven folks, my kin

live close to here.

Nobody drives too far for Santa,

not near the distance to Atlanta,

With the price of gas and truck’s broke down, still I managed

to catch a ride to town. 

Lights are up at the Dollar Store, a Christmas tree inside,

I guide a yellow shopping cart down narrow aisles in stride.

Skoal for Daddy yes indeed, he likes to chew and chill,

chocolate for Mama, if Kools don’t kill her,

Diabetes will.

One stuffed rabbit for my little sister,

$2.98 plus tax,

For my aunt that lives in the trailer out back,

red candle made from wax. 

Including me that leaves my brother,

but he ain’t around this season,

He’s down in Jackson doing time,

got shot for no good reason.

Still I buy him a card we all can sign,

and mail it hope he’s doing fine,

Say I miss our deer hunting and someday soon,

when he’s on parole we’ll shoot the moon.

Some years Santa don’t find us up in the hollow, don’t see

the smoke from the stove.

The sleigh gets tangled, reindeer lost, I’m sure he wished he’d drove.

But we hope for the best, prepare for whatever,

Merry Christmas to all this year.

I’ll be needing a ride from the Dollar General, pick me up 

and spread some cheer…