A Child’s Christmas

The child has asked me if
Santa has a radiation suit
to protect him outside
the shelter;
I got around the chimney part
by substituting air ducts;
but now the child is convinced 
that Rudolf is suffering
radiation burns on his nose
and it’s hard to change the bandages
when you’re laughing and crying 
at the same time.

—a woman
  San Joaquin Valley
  North America