Our plastic Xmas tree, the rare time that evil plastic is the hero!
His eyes were crinkled
like Santa Claus when he smiled
even though he was young
his soul was old
ancient in time like mine.
One Christmas he carried
a 6ft live tree
letting needles prick him for
endless sidewalks,
maybe 10 blocks for us
to have a Happy Christmas
he walked like Jesus gliding
in reversed crucifixion
he didn’t believe in cars
he was so proud of himself
free ride ground score pride
He smiled big like a buddha
under a magic Bodhi wand.
If you wait late
until on xmas eve
the trees are free.
His childhood family was crazy
they dressed 3 farmed
xmas trees every mormon year.
But I never wanted to buy them ever
fresh from the evergreen butcher
who amputates their feet
nails them to the metallic stand
in a pool of hard water
his chainsaw hands wet
with dripping blood sapping
sticky with half dead wings of weeping tears.
Then after the holiday ritual sacrifice
trashed like a bundle of homeless
huddled stripped of the plastic
gaudy merry finery,
swirls of colored electronic joy bulbs
now it’s bare naked branches
are spread eagle
on the sidewalk concrete
raped of life for our guilty pleasure
of having a living forest
in our decked out living rooms
disposable property
bought sold bartered
but yes we adored the freebie martyr
we befriended it like druids
worshipped its iconic splendor
thanked it and kept it alive
for as long as we could.
Why can’t we just decorate
living trees outside?
Why are we so destructive?
Spencer knew why I sighed
I think he’ll be my last husband
no one else comes close
to understanding
my heart.
I love the imagery in this poem, particularly relating to the Good Friday Passion Walk of Christ.
And also the idea of the sacrifice of living things such as trees on the altar of consumerism.
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I like your phrase, the altar of consumerism, exactly right.
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I think it’s ironic that the Christmas celebrations are based on pagan holidays celebrating winter solstice and wanted to highlight the idea of sacrifice. Thanks for your insightful comment.
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