Saturday, December 22, 2018

Real Christmas

Fiorella's Christmas sonnet from 1986, when she was a young mother:

I placed the proper plastic on the door
And wound the newel post with ersatz holly
I bought some frosted cookies at the store
And ordered all the children to be jolly
I flocked the tree with simulated snow
And stained the mirror glass with cellophane
I stacked some carols on the stereo
And sprayed ice pictures on the windowpane
I listened to the store-front Santa's tale
My duty gifts are underneath the tree
My hundred slick-faced cards are in the mail
Signed "Love," with holiday sincerity
     The halls are decked with manufactured zeal
     But the Christ Child in my joyous heart is real.

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