A Holiday Tale for All

A few nights before Christmas
The middle of Hanukkah
Los Angeles is stirring
A City Symphonica

Shoppers on Broadway
Like peas in a pod
Wishing each other
Feliz Navidad

Crowds keep an eye out
For gifts that will thrill
On Pico and Central
On Sunset and Hill

When down Santee Alley
Who should appear
But Hanukkah Harry
And a team of reindeer

He pulls up his sleigh
Steps down to the street
He smiles and he waves
To all those he meets

He cannot stay long
He just stopped to say
That Santa and he
Are working away

“There’s trouble around
all through our world
Enough to be frightful
for each boy and girl

So Santa and I
Must share this year’s load
For only one person
It’s too long of a road

It’s a good thing we’re pals
Old Santa and I
Although our faiths differ
He’s still a good guy

So we’re splitting the load
All through the city
We’ll visit all homes
The gorgeous and gritty

Whether Christmas or Kwanzaa
Hanukkah or New Year’s
We want to bring hope
And ease some of your fears

So if you see Santa or me
Or perhaps another fellow
Dressed in red or white
Or green or yellow

Remember that different
Doesn’t mean wrong
We all have our customs
Faith, feast and song

So be like Santa and me
As we’re dashing around
Look past the difference
And find common ground"

Jerry Sullivan is the Editor & Publisher of the Los Angeles Garment & Citizen, a weekly community newspaper that covers Downtown Los Angeles and surrounding districts (www.garmentandcitizen.com)