Poem Of The Week - The Twelve Days Of Christmas

Okay, I know what you're thinking: she's lost it. Well, yes. We all know that. But hear me out. Obviously, we needed to discuss a festive poem and when I logged onto the Poetry Foundation's website, this was the first poem I saw. So let's take a look!

The Twelve Days of Christmas

by Anonymous

The first day of Christmas, My true love sent to me A partridge in a pear tree.

The second day of Christmas, My true love sent to me Two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear tree.

The third day of Christmas, My true love sent to me Three French hens, Two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear tree.

The fourth day of Christmas, My true love sent to me Four colly birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear tree.

The fifth day of Christmas, My true love sent to me Five gold rings, Four colly birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear tree.

The sixth day of Christmas, My true love sent to me Six geese a-laying, Five gold rings, Four colly birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear tree.

The seventh day of Christmas, My true love sent to me Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five gold rings, Four colly birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear tree.

The eighth day of Christmas, My true love sent to me Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five gold rings, Four colly birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear tree.

The ninth day of Christmas, My true love sent to me Nine drummers drumming, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five gold rings, Four colly birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear tree. The tenth day of Christmas, My true love sent to me Ten pipers piping, Nine drummers drumming, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five gold rings, Four colly birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear tree. The eleventh day of Christmas My true love sent to me Eleven ladies dancing, Ten pipers piping, Nine drummers drumming, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five gold rings, Four colly birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear tree.

The twelfth day of Christmas My true love sent to me Twelve fiddlers fiddling, Eleven ladies dancing, Ten pipers piping, Nine drummers drumming, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five gold rings, Four colly birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear tree.

I mean, we all know the song but if you hadn't heard the song, what would your thoughts be about the poem?

Honestly, as a poetic device, I'm very intrigued by the form (extending each stanza by one line etc.)

But also, what about the thesis of the poem? Are these gifts the act of a true lover or is there a suggestion of something darker/more sinister?