1 December
the christmas tree stand was bordered by those big old fashioned lights
strung up charlie brown style
the road into the village led past that stand
it curved up the hill past the old graveyard where the
it curved up the hill past the old graveyard where the
town's veterans from crisis's long past lay sleeping the deep sleep
a man selling trees in a dark and damp sweatshirt
hunkered next to a crackling fire to keep warm
in the rainy dark night
hunkered next to a crackling fire to keep warm
in the rainy dark night
the smell of the sea and the trees crisp in the air
the plight of us all depends upon some insight gained
at a dimly lit christmas tree stand
that you pass on the way home from work each night
hands steady on the wheel
eyes staring straight at the road ahead of you
you know there are those with issues larger than yours
and that is something to be thankful for
so you force yourself to look at the tiny lights
twinkling in your rear view mirror
and promise that the foggy gloom you ride through
will not
trounce what little joy you have been able to dig up
swear it will be better next year
word
this is not auto-biographical
i am annoyingly cheerful and optimistic
and even more so at christmas time
what an intriguing line...the plight of us all found there at that little christmas tree stand...and yes there is always next year...the next day...always hope for a better tomorrow....
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post.
ReplyDelete:)
Tomorrows do exist.
I feel like I have lived those words a few times or more. Lovely and intriquing. xo Karen
ReplyDeleteThank goodness for that!
ReplyDeleteA lovely piece of writing, though.
Well I suppose that writing a 'what if' poem is a great way to appreciate others' situation. You were very successful in doing so. I wanted the last word "word" to be "world" as though you were bargaining with it.
ReplyDeleteI thought of "world" as well and it kept coming up...but one must work with what one is given
DeleteI like your disclaimer, beautiful photo and at 64 'trounce' is a new word to me, imagine!
ReplyDeleteWho can not be cheerful when thinking of Charlie Brown's Christmas..
ReplyDeleteHad to smile at the Charlie Brown reference. So many happy memories of watching Charlie Brown specials!
ReplyDeleteLovely post .... you have a way with words.
ReplyDeletediane @ aug's blog
and promise that the foggy gloom you ride through
ReplyDeletewill not trounce what little joy you have been able to dig up
swear it will be better next year
Yes we've been through lots this year. Hopefully it'll be great next year. Wonderful write!
Hank
I like the image you painted with words and also your graphic - is it a photo? Visiting from the pub.
ReplyDeleteYou have really written a well-crafted scene here.... I am glad that within this scene there is at least a little joy, and hope that the ending comes to pass...that it will be better the next year.
ReplyDeletesad... until that little 'notice' you placed after the write :) - but well-observed ~
ReplyDeleteOh the hope for a better future.. Love that end of the bleakness of today
ReplyDeletelove the poem and also the note at the end...
ReplyDeletecheer is always good..
what we promise to ourselves vs what we do... never more evident than at Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThere was much sense of untold story here for me--and I love that in a piece--really well penned!
ReplyDeleteYou have your special way to touch the hearts...thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou see deeply into the soul of place. And how it changes us to tread there. A rare skill.
ReplyDeleteFelt I was riding along with you not only on the front seat, but also within your mind. Nicely done,
ReplyDelete