Christmas in Solaria

Santa was still getting used to Christmas in space

Traveling with spacesuits and rockets in place

Reindeer and elves back on earth with Ms. Claus

He thought of them fondly during a brief pause

He had finished with Earth, the Moon and Mars

Halfway through his journey through the stars

Solaria was next on the delivery list

He set the coordinances with a flick of his wrist

He saw only one place with children that play

Who would love presents on Christmas day

He set off with his usual joy and cheer 

With hopes of a great Space Christmas this year

When Santa landed, vast lands around

Not a creature was stirring, not a single sound

Except one lone woman, standing outside

Oblivious to Santa, carrying pride

Santa checked the list, Klorissa her name, 

Good this year, good genes her fame

Or so she thought, but Santa knew

He job was thankless, through and through

She toiled hard all year around

Rarely making a complaining sound

To anyone, but now one could see,

Only view the stress done to she

Solaria was not a place of a mom and a dad

But robots to watch children be good and bad

No families, just structure, Klorissa the only one

To watch every daughter and every son

Each child had every toy ever made

But human affection would soon fade

No mother's hugs, no father's games

And soon playing with children would not be the same

By a certain age they would view

Every single person they ever knew

Klorissa the only person who could even touch

Even then she didn't give much

Just discipline to all the boys and girls

The only real parent on this world

How could she know to give them more?

She didn't know what a mom and dad were for

She never had one, never saw the need 

Just thought children were to protect and feed

Robots could do both within the three laws 

Keep children safe, feed eager maws

Put them to sleep when the time was right

Watch ever step, stop every fight

Klorissa was there when robots wouldn't do

And she didn't do much, that Santa knew

There was no one gift for each, Santa did fear

That wasn't already in front of them here

He snuck past Klorissa when he could 

And found out where all kids, bad and good

Were staying, and the control for their rooms

He'd have to open all of them, and soon

He snuck past robots standing duty

He hid in the shadows, his suit still sooty

From houses before, where families had love

Not where the only man who cared was from above 

Who would come and give presents once a year

Santa knew what Solaria children wanted this year

Klorissa went to bed, robots on standby

He went to the controls, easy as pie,

Opened every room and went to the halls

That were miles away in the complex mall

Where all the children were bred and raised

Where only genetics were worshiped and praised

Not love, and affection, and family where one

Could teach and hold each daughter and son

The children, surprised, went along with the happenings, 

Knew to expect presents in wrappings,

Instead they found Santa, in his classic suit

Red with white trim, and shiny black boot

They ran to him, the younger ones first

Screaming out in one jovial burst

The older ones were taught of the fear of germs 

The idea crawled under their skin like worms

But they were intrigued, an adult that smiled

At the eyes of every single child

Santa urged them over, and began to say

"I simply came over to see you and play

And teach you how to be good boys and girls

Like parents do on other spacer worlds

We can do it again next year if you like

I won't get you sick, which is in spite

of what you were taught, I made myself clean

There will not be a hurting stomach or spleen."

He gave a big grin, which every child returned

The only adult that showed them concern

And from there the games began

They clapped and sang and laughed and ran

And Santa taught lessons to each child

How to be nice and not too wild

They played for hours, until everyone was tired

The sun was close, night had expired

Santa wished them "Merry Christmas, see you next year!

And to all on Solaria, good cheer!"

The children waved by as he went to his sleigh, 

Some started to cry, knowing today

They would go back to no contact, no family

Klorissa and the robots were all they could be

But not enough to fill their hearts

With gloved hands and metallic parts

They knew that next year, Santa would come

And play again all the fun games they had done

Santa packed up the sleigh, went up to the sky

Seeing some little ones still waving bye

He looked to a letter and gave a smile,

One from a good boy who had been a man for a while

Plainsclothesman Elijah gave the heads up

About the children who had no ma or pop

And suggest a parent on Christmas Eve

And tonight, that's what Santa came to be

He'd left good gifts for Elijah on Earth,

Knowing what a thoughtful idea was worth

But he still had to take care of children near and far,

So Santa started the sleigh, and headed for the stars

_________________________________________

For those of you who have read Asimov's The Naked Sun, I hope you appreciate my spontaneous poem for the season.  Recovering from the busy week at work has my creative juices flowing again.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!  And once again, avoid the Krampus!

-d20 Sapphire