Rebellion
Jesus and Santa talk about Christmas.
They agree that greed is still
on the upswing, despite foreclosed
homes, rising debt and lost jobs.
Santa’s on overload.
The want lists grow longer.
He remembers when a doll, a piece
of candy or a baseball glove
was enough, not iPads, designer
jeans, and smart phones, too.
His elves are exhausted.
Mrs. Claus is threatening a walk-out.
Jesus says everyone’s forgotten him,
that nobody remembers Christmas is about
learning to pass through the needle’s eye,
to help old ladies dodge traffic, to lend
a hand ever so often at the local soup kitchen.
No Wise Men ever appear on Christmas Eve
and the Star of Wonder has long faded.
People think Santa and Jesus are enemies,
the north and south of the holiday,
but they both only want kinder times to return.
**
Marmalade
My father has spoken to spirits all day.
The carolers are long gone.
Christmas gifts are unwrapped
and piled back under the tree.
The hoped for snow never came.
We carry my father’s gift into the bedroom.
Strawberry marmalade.
Wrapped gaily even though we know
he can’t see or smell it, won’t be able
to eat it.
He sighs, then is silent, takes one more breath
and becomes shooting stars, fireflies, and pink
cotton candy.
The room is filled with my father
for the last time.
I feel my knees buckle.
Sometime after midnight we hear the first snow.
