O what a lovely set of cards
Huge trees with lights and balls and yards
And yards of tinsel hung in loops
And little children rolling hoops
With stripy scarves behind them flapping
While indoors cats and dogs are napping
Stretched out on rugs before the fire
Here's one that's definitely dire
A lurid cromolitho is showing
Some huddled cows on whom it's snowing
Inside there is a lengthy letter
That all's for worse and not for better
It's from the Hipdeep family
All victims of calamity
If I am right from other years
I'll read aloud - prepare for tears