In the Wake of the Holidays

In the wake of the holidays The hustle and bustle are no more, And pieces of wrapping paper No longer dance across the floor. The bells are silent Without donating a ring, The rhythm of Christmas carols We no longer sing. Crumpled shopping lists Adorn empty carts, As new toys begin To lose their small parts. Decorations are taken down And boxed up till next year, Strangers pass by With no greetings of cheer. Stores offer big sales On leftover stuff, And New Year’s resolutions Become very tough. Santa hangs up his hat As he fades quietly away, Kids return to school As routine returns the day. A quiet calmness Settles over the winter season, As cabin fever sneaks in Trapping us for no reason. In the wake of the holidays When the excitement slips away, Its our credit cards For the next year we pay.