St. Nick fell off the float this year

St. Nick fell off the float at the parade this year.
Artery clogged heart attack or one too many
swigs from the flask tucked in his beard,
it wasn’t clear.
As he tumbled down, clinging
to the Metamucil ad tacked on the side of his sleigh,
his fateful last words hung in the air
“Thanks for coming out kids, now back to Gerry and the news team!”
The team struck dumb,
mouths sucking at wind,
under the Holiday Tree in centre square.
A rush of children made for the sleigh
with only momentary delay.
First dibs on the jolly man’s gifts;
the cameras panned, a wide shot of
disappointed youngsters,
mouths sucking at wind
as they tore open empty boxes
and brightly wrapped Styrofoam.