carefully formed, but misspelled words fill pages and pages of wants most pure.
overcome parents offer fervent prayers to distant gods that go unanswered.
"how will the latest device sit under that tree if we can't finance and pay the installation fee?"
a hardly unique question.
"i've been extra good this year," the children add innocently.
how could mom and dad not concede?
they'll take out a small loan to fill the floor under that lighted tree,
and spend the next year paying it off so they can
wash, rinse, repeat.
****
traditions may not have started here,
with the stress and emphasis on the joneses,
but it's where we've landed in the late stage of this economic 'ism.
can we let there be a new holiday cheer?
a new mantra for the season?
instead of passive "peace on earth" or "good will to all,"
let's commit to being Love in everything we do.
let's say instead:
"act from Love (the verb, that is), and peace is sure to follow."
About the Creator
kp
I am a non-binary, trans-masc writer. I work to dismantle internalized structures of oppression, such as the gender binary, class, and race. My writing is personal but anecdotally points to a larger political picture of systemic injustice.
Comments (4)
Absolutely wonderful, let’s make it so!! ❤️❤️❤️💯
This is such a beautiful, poignant piece; you have indeed reframed the season with a priority on something so much more powerful and lasting than things. Thanks for this, kp!
Wow, this happens a lot in life. Christmas did become something else, and we lost the true meaning of it. But love is something that should remain with all holidays. Love the lesson you put into your poem. Excellent writing.
This is sad, I am hoping that Christmas is an happy occasion for everyone this year.