Christmas-time (1969)
Now Christmas-time is here, a time for joy,
A time for friendship. Both we wish for you,
And thank you once again for all your help
Encouragement and guidance in our fight
To tame the clarinet. You must not think
Because we pay our debt of gratitude
But once a year, we do not realise
How much we owe you: how much suffering
Our weekly insults to the Muse must bring.
But gather consolation from the thought –
You suffer, but we suffer with you too!
Meg Rugg-Easey 1969