Christmas

Tender hearts of hardened gold,
Stillborn lovers
Bought and sold,
Slumber sadly,
Weep for joys undreamt.

Spinning doors, smiling clerks,
Clanging sales and escalators,
Frenzy hurried mothers.
High on greed and envy,
Shoving, bumping,
Casting aside
Carolers’ scarves and virgin’s child.

All is well.
Eggnog, brandy, turkey and ham,
A fake-bearded Santa gnawing on lamb.
Plastic branches, tinseled and draped,
Carless gods that sparkle bright.

A child’s molested dream:
The green bearing gold,
The returned gift.
Ashes of love,
Trimmed locks and watch chains.

James K. Richardson