Three weeks before Christmas and all through the nights

I dreaded the task of hanging the tree lights.

Packed last year and stored with great care

I opened the box and looked in with a stare.

Tangles and knots! But how could that be?

Did the Grinch do this to anger me?

Unraveling the wires, my heart then leapt

Had the lights burned out in the attic where kept?

With trembling hand, I plugged a string to the wall

A sigh of relief, the set lit all!

Round the tree I hung the wire so green

I plugged in another but no light was seen!

A set of 100 I put to the test

Half lit up but none of the rest!

Ah, a new fuse I poised to try

No more lights did I want to buy.

I pushed the fuse into the back of the plug

But out it popped and onto the rug.

On hands and knees, I could not find,

I gave up the search; I’m losing my mind!

A string of lights lay on the floor.

I took a step and they’re good no more!

The next set I tested had three not lit

New bulbs I tried but none did fit!

The fourth string plugged in and they shined just fine

But they all went out when strung to the line!

There’s truth to the curse of the Christmas tree lights

In the attic sits the Grinch on summer nights.

The wires he tangles.

The bulbs he mangles.

You can hear his laughter from miles afar.

Oh no! Out went the light of the tree top star!

As one more bulb burned out with a burst

And with a desperate plan to end the curse

I set a lamp on the floor and made the tree bright

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good light!

Rich Strack can be reached at richiesadie11@gmail.com.