CHRISTMAS 1987

I said, “I’ll just skip Christmas”.
I’ll exclude myself this year.
Carols and bells and fare-the-wells
Are not what I need to hear.
I’ve had some traumas and turmoil,
I don’t want to smell the pine
Try me again another year
Somewhere down the line.
I’d rather not feel the warmth
Of the fire
Or silky ribbons and wrappings.
They’re all designed to torture my mind
With sentimental trappings.
I’ve tried to resist, push the season aside
I didn’t trim a tree.
But some friends gathered round
And surprised, I found-
Christmas came to me.

Janet Brice 12-22-87