by Julia Griffin

“Vandals Destroy Ebenezer Scrooge’s Fictional Tombstone Featured in a Film Adaptation of ‘A Christmas Carol’”
—Smithsonian

He saved his curtains; not, alas, his grave,
Now smashed to pieces. What a shock for him!
He’d thought the world embraced him and forgave:
He helped the Cratchits, cherished Tiny Tim,
Showered charity on all, and turkeys too,
Kept Christmas all year round—yet still that huge,
Appalling fear, the unloved tomb, came true.
No friends remain for EBENEZER SCROOGE.

So it appeared. But look again: you’ll find
Full restitution, gratis! It turns out
All that’s required of us is to be kind;
Scrooge learned the lesson, put those ghouls to rout,
And passed it on to us. The harm’s undone;
The name’s made new. God bless us, every one!