Festive firs are tumbling
bare of coloured glory.
Needles and fronds carpet
halls grey with silence;
carolling a distant joy.
Gifts rest in hibernation;
wingèd figurines lie swathed
beneath a glittered duvet
of prized iridescent tissues
adorning a winter casket
keeper of twelve days
festooned in priceless reverie.
I like to walk my neighborhood
looking at all the scary decorations
giant skeletons with red eyes glowing
ghosts, headstones, witches and ugly creatures
but sometimes where is something cute
like pumpkins on a lawn and on top sits a black kitten
Two days before Christmas
Finally, it is near
I’m so sick of the chatter and all the cheer
Smiling faces, warm hearts, and hugs
I can only think of one thing,
Bah Humbug
Everyone joyous and being extra kind
One would think they have lost their mind
Red and green decorations everywhere
Gold or silver tinsel, I don’t care
Houses all covered in lights
Attacked by holiday parasites
Radio playing nothing but Christmas songs
Honestly, I find it all tiresome and long
Hustle and bustle for a gift of something dear
I never get what I want anyways,
Slowly, counting down the days until it is over next year
Cinnamon sticks and gingerbread cookies what a stench
I despise it all like the Grinch
Some may say I seem a bit Scrooged
With my cup of hot cocoa and a cold-hearted rouge
Who knows in the midst of it all
Something may spark and I could have a ball
But for now, I look out the window
Gazing at the hideous Santa and reindeer across the street and shrug
The only thing I can think of is,
Bah Humbug
Poinsettia plant
Flower of the Holy Night
Star of Bethlehem
The leaves symbolize Christ's blood
- gorgeous in the windowsill
I am holding again the tattered boxes of Christmas decorations
inherited from my mom and grandma, they are old and fragile
and full of memories, I touch each one with love and respect,
I have never changed the boxes, they remain ragged as always,
as if they were just put away by mom and grandma, so tenderly,
and I weep as I hang each ornate Christmas ball and little angel.
My latest piece is 422 characters too long for a poem - who decided that?
So, it's under "short stories"
It's called "eve 2022"
Here's most of the URL (because you can't post those here - oh, no.)
www.poetrysoup.com/short_stories/eve_2022_11888
This time of the year
when the cannas sadly droop,
Ma is saving kitchen scraps
from recent repasts
for a hearty winter soup,
and decorations go up.
Too early I think
with the Christmas ornaments
for commercial purposes
slighting Halloween
and Thanksgiving gatherings.
I shall complain bitterly.
No one will listen!
Some say I am Mister Scrooge
I can stand only so much
happiness and joy,
cash registers dinging loud
facing the mad shopping crowds.
Each year it gets worse
when the cannas sadly droop,
and Ma saves scraps for the soup
decorating starts,
and I complain bitterly
but no one listens or cares.
Written September 12, 2022
My neighborhood is decorated with festive lights,
Large inflatable santas, snowmen, and nativity scenes
Glittering plastic icicles drip from front porch eaves,
A wide-eyed Martian would wonder what it all means.
A Frosty the Snowman, as big as a Greyhound bus,
Is bobbing and weaving, to and fro, with dramatic flair
There is even a gigantic sleigh with eight huge reindeer
On top of a gabled roof, how did they get it up there?
Our Central Park is aglow with huge lighted displays
Depicting everything that suggests the season’s festivity--
A Christmas village with a group of winter-clad carolers,
And live sheep, cattle, and a donkey at a rustic nativity.
I am very content with my small Christmas tree --
After all, this year, there’s just I, myself, and me.
written December 20, 2021
Christmas
The decorations are up and the tree is lit
The turkey is croaked and the sprouts are split
The tellies warmed and the bar is open
It’s Christmas again I've got my gift token
The wife’s supine trying out her yoga mat
My favourite films on, but we can’t find the cat
I don’t want nothing, literally got it all
I am so chilled, but can’t stand Davina Macall
The chocolate boxes are open see the raps
To run off the dinner, I’ve done twenty laps
And now The Great Escape, is on the box
I open my last present, another pair of socks
So, everyone is finished, stomachs like hills
I’ve ate all the chocky; drank all the pils
So off to bed, enough food and beer
It’s been the best Christmas, for over a year?
David Cox 7/12/21
Plaid pillowcases, paisley sheets, polka dotted comforter,
The brand name designers can throw this together
And everyone oohs and ah’s and acts like
They have never before seen
anything this marvelous
And never will again.
When we try to do it,
People laugh.
Behind our backs
After they leave
Unless they are
Relatives…
They laugh
Immediately
Loudly and rudely.
fairy lights shining,
baubles and bells twirl about...
decor in Christmas.
October 30, 2018
Well the shoppers are all out
Already in costume wandering about
Buying up candy and chocolate bars
Trick or treating under the stars
What will the costumes be this year?
Make us laugh and bring some cheer
Some of the yards will be quite frightening
And some will be most enlightening
Shedding some light on Halloween
And what it truly means
Witches, ghouls, goblins, and pumpkins too
Hope they don't put a spell on you
Honoring the dead in such a way
Bidding good-byes to them today
Is what they say it truly means
To go and celebrate Halloween
To honor death is somewhat strange
Maybe even a little deranged
Why do people truly celebrate this night?
Some think it's wrong and some think it's right!
Buy rum and eggnog
Buy the decorations
Decorations to put up
Decorations to light up
Up **** creek
Up on the roof
Rooftop Santa
Rooftop sleigh
Sleigh bells ring
Sleigh and reindeer
Reindeer eat
Reindeer crap
Crap to shovel
Crap to do
Do not drink
Do not fall
Fall off the wagon
Fall down the chimney
Chimney ashes
Chimney soot
Soot on face
Soot on hands
Hands me a towel
Hands me drinks
Drinks too much
Drinks my lunch
Lunch is served
Lunch of cookies
Cookies crumble
Cookies need milk
Milk the reindeer
Milk the job
Job is a pain
Job for a holiday
Holiday gift
Holiday wish
Wish in one hand
Wish away the day
Day is flying
Day of reckon
Reckon I will have another
Reckon I am drunk
Drunk on Christmas
Drunk on love
Love hurts
Love this holiday
Holiday eggnog
Holiday cheers
Cheers...
Eggnog...
Written 11/28/17
for Contest
Blitzing Christmas
Hosted by taai tekai
The wooden skull and pumpkins
Dangle neatly by the door.
The ghost and owl made of felt
Add much to the decor.
The cat and witch are wishing all
A Happy Halloween
And soon a jack-o-lantern will
Give credence to the scene.
The skeleton quite jauntily
Holds court while on his perch.
The scary part was finding them
From last year - what a search!
I watch the neighborhood light up their houses
in colorful displays
of white and multicolor marvels.
Decorations blink and glow
brightening the night
and illuminating the darkness.
For some, lights are not enough
and along the grass and walkways
are santas and snowmen and reindeer
elves and candy canes, to many more to name.
How easily we forget
the very cause of the season.
Just a few set the record straight
revealing a mother, father, and child in a manger
with shepherd and kings standing watch.
A child’s birth remembered this very day
celebrated with joy and gifts for all
save the child which made it possible.
Set the lights, wrap the packages,
decorate a tree with garlands and ornaments.
but pause a little while.
Remember for a moment
the birth and message of that child.
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