OH, CHRISTMAS TREE

“I love it, the best we’ve ever had
Do we have to take it down?”
So we said last year and, it seems, every year

This year, a little different
Boxes in the basement
Hide forty-seven years of treasures
Lost in a tangle of angels

Time to organize
Get it out and on the tree
Then in a week or two
Sort through
Toss, share, save a few

This current tree
Not our best, lacks symmetry
Shedding needles way too soon
And has never had that aroma
That hits you entering the room

Instead of crisp and pert
Its shoulders droop
With the weight of holidays past

Red yarn threaded through a styrofoam peanut
Three pieces of wood, nailed twice — an airplane
Pieces of felt with pictures glued, each child 35 years ago

Where will it all go? What will go? What will stay?
Packages of treasures on the way
To the rest of the family tree

Next year, something more designer maybe
But by whose hand?
A commercial brand?  
Clean rug, needle free
 
Stay tuned.  We’ll see
How future trees help celebrate
As we accumulate more
Anniversaries

DRK
Christmas, 2015