Be Careful, Don’t Tear the Paper

Be careful, don’t tear the paper,
Be careful taking the tape off,
Be careful to save the ribbons,
We can use them next year.

You see this gift bag?
It’s not déjà vu.
You put my present in it
At my birthday last June.

It’s wrinkled, but we can iron it,
It’s folded, but we can use it,
It’s almost completed shredded,
But it’s perfectly good.

Don’t throw it away!
How wasteful of you!
I’ve used the same paper
Since nineteen eighty-two.

Just cross out the “Happy Birthday,”
Just cross out the “Thinking of You,”
Just cross out “On Your Retirement,”
And write “Christmas” in!

It’s still a good card,
Now where is that pen?
Just cross out your own name
And mail it again.

Be careful, don’t tear the paper,
Be careful taking the tape off,
Be careful to save the ribbons,
We can use them next year.