by Barbara Loots

“Here’s a pre-new year prediction: In stores around the nation, children—and their parents—
will stand in line to sit on Santa’s lap and beg him to bring them a different presidential race.”
—Gail Collins in The New York Times

Dear Santa,
When you come this year
we hope you’ll pack your sleigh
with common sense and candidates
prepared to save the day.
The Constitution’s getting old
and looks a little sick—
please send some clever elves to heal
the body politic.
If you’ll bring human rights for all,
we’ll wish for nothing more
and dump the naughty girls and boys
in 2024.