‘Twas the night before Christmas and all around my body
The wolf was stirring like the hottest hot toddy.
My hands and my knees were just not playing ball
And I wasn’t looking forward to Christmas at all.

The Christmas tree was decorated, looking quite stunning
But the wolf was on the prowl, oh so very cunning.
I needed to sleep, I felt so tired
The thought of a lupus Christmas leaving me totally uninspired.

Tinsel and baubles strewn all over the floor
My joints so inflamed, so tender and sore.
Christmas cards written, addressed but not sealed
My make-up worn off and lupus rash revealed.

Stars twinkling up in the moonlit sky
My spirit and soul in a duel, who will win the wolf or I?
The constant battle leaving me totally wrecked
‘Twas Christmas Eve and I hadn’t even wrapped a present yet.

My reflection in the window, a wolf stared back in
The prospect of a lupus free Christmas now looking grim.
I prayed that, as tomorrow was Christmas Day
Santa would call tonight and whisk the wolf away.

Everyone was nestled all snug in their beds
But only visions of steroids danced in my head.
So me in my pyjamas hot water bottle under arm
Was slowly giving in to the evil wolf’s charm.

When out on the stairway there arose such a clatter
Good heavens knees, take the strain, what's the matter?
I picked myself up cursing loudly in my mind
And prayed for a sound sleep leaving the wolf behind.

Tossing and turning I cursed my bad luck
I don’t want this wolf, why couldn’t I have a nice duck?
Then off I drifted to a pain free place
Where my body could keep up an almost normal pace.
 
I ran with the reindeer all over the land
But ‘twas only a dream, that I now understand
I know when I awake my joints will again play their game
Of seeing just how much I can take of this awful pain.

A turkey to stuff, potatoes to peel
The family together for their Christmas meal,
And as usual me, totally stressed
At having to deal with the wolf, my uninvited guest.

Food, drink and chocolates galore
Total over indulgence, to make my joints sore.
A mouthful of ulcers, so nothing to taste
But I certainly won’t let those scrumptious chocolates go to waste.

The snow silently falling, glistening and glowing
The wolf’s arrival unannounced, oh when is he going?
So much to do, feeling dreadful, looking fine
But that's the problem you see, to most, lupus - well it’s just a state of mind.

So Please Santa this Christmas if I can have only one wish
It’s not Brad Pitt I want, although he’s quite a dish.

For Christmas this year I’d like a day
Completely pain free for that I pray.
If I can’t have that, then George Clooney will do
But it’d be just my luck to then get the flu.
A Christmas with lupus is hard to endure
So please dear Santa, this year, help our doctors find a cure.
 
By Lupus patients Angie Davidson & Reena Spencer