Christmas decorations are arising in the stores,
\nready to do battle for the custom of the hordes
\nof children and their parents who arrive all glad and jolly,
\nbut leave in tears much later, tempers thorned like Christmas holly.<\/p>\n
Why is it that we start this fight so early in November?
\nThe day they’re getting ready for occurs in late December.
\nOf course there are two sides to this, and one of them’s religious;
\nthe other side is secular, its ancient roots, prodigious.<\/p>\n
Duality’s not novelty: even criminals go to church;
\nand avarice makes angels of kids and keeps them from being worse.
\nAnd of course the stores need money, and to make it, build the hype
\n’til just about everyone’s green with greed and red as a screaming tyke.<\/p>\n
In just about every tourist town there’s a Christmas store all year:
\na trap in red and green and gold for every buck that’s near.
\nAnd if you really wanted to, you could shop a year ahead:
\njust hit the stores on Boxing Day until your credit’s dead.<\/p>\n
Oh, why do we do this every year? It’s really so upsetting:
\nthe kids want this, the kids want that— their emphasis is getting.
\nIf only there were some other way to prove the world’s not ending,
\nbut colder winds and shorter days, are apocalyptic tending,
\nand the need for lights and laughter is certainly worth defending.
\nLaughter and lights in the land of night are certainly worth extending.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Winter solstice brings out primal urges: the need for light, heat, booze and shopping. (#977) Continue reading