such
an
old temptation
lust
lying dormant
in most
the whole year long
until
that
ceremonial
religious holiday
when
kissing
coveted
neighbors
and
friends
under
the mistletoe
and
indulgent requests
for
needless gifts
reveals
its presence
in
the human heart
oh
some would say
it’s
harmless frivolity
nothing
more
surely
nothing
abhorrent
to which
i
must reply
is
a lustful
lie
holidays hard days cold winds frost the windows and chill even the youngest bones there’ll be no manger wise men or gifts but the lights wink at the children through the iced portals of this home of theirs parked on broad street
scurry on down to your walmart store load up on those stocking stuffers suggested by the morning news host who failed to mention during the news that 7 hundred and 30 rohingya children were killed in myanmar in just one month and don’t stop to listen to stories of the blockade in yemen and the outbreak of cholera cholera that will infect a mere 600 thousand children by the end of this year’s bowl session no need for concern when you’ve your own blockade to deal with as you struggle to find a parking space to gobble up those 50% discounts on overstocked items like those designer jeans that were marked up 350% making your discount a real step for mankind and whatever you do don’t watch any stories about those suffering in our own nation those who bear invisible scars scars of rape rejection and replacement i mean they had the same opportunities as you did or did they
aunt bea and i were talking about how each christmas my mom would make chitlins and though i loved the taste of them with just the right amount of vinegar the smell when they were cooking was what i imagined hell would smell like aunt bea smiled and said child getting what you want sometimes requires that you put up with something you don’t enjoy
sleep filled eyes peer through staircase rails at a christmas bounty the charge of the light brigade restrained only by an uncaring clock that persists in moving slowly towards the designated hour
wrapped in brightly colored paper the boxes containing everything you asked for surround the tree tinselled dreams sparkling like stars await the dawn of christmas day but within the boxes you will find nothing that you need no love
Read Between the Minds 