‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house,

Daddy was dining with child and with spouse.

A great mango tart was our lovely dessert.

Mom might be allergic, but what could it hurt?

Once slice each we had, and then said the mother:

“I’m eating for two, may I please have another?”

And so did we all, then it was time to go bed;

Clothes were changed, teeth were brushed, and two stories were read.

Mom and I still had some gifts left to wrap,

So I hurried my daughter off to her nap.

Then the light was put out and I went back downstairs

Finding the worrisome worst of nightmares:

Mom started itching; her face, it turned red.

In fact, from her waist the to the top of her head

she was red as a lobster, and her face, how it swelled!

Our Christmas Eve might be emergency room hell!

The mangoes, so tasty, they were the cause

of my wife turning rosy as ol’ Santa Claus.

Mom jumped in the shower to cool herself off,

then I called the O.B., and I said with a cough,

“My wife is allergic, and she’s feeling ill.”

“She be fine,” said the Doc, “give her two Benadryl.”

So I gave her the tablets and sent her to bed.

The pills took effect, she was no longer red.

She passed out; and alone, I went down to work

To pick up the slack for that Santa Claus jerk.

The presents I wrapped, the cookies I ate,

The stockings I stuffed, and the hour, it grew late.

Then finally I finished, and in bed I lay;

Dreaming of a somewhat more calm Christmas Day.