By, Wendiann Alfieri
So this is Christmas
Shining like a light
look at the stars
But that’s not where I am
I’m on houses and trees and the fireplace
You sit next to me and I hope you’re not through with me yet
You focus on the flame but that’s not me that’s not my name
All of you compliment me throughout the whole season
But leaving me up? You’ve got no good reason
And soon the nativities and presents go away
What about me?
Why can’t you let me stay?
You worked hard to put me up climbing on ladders and sometimes fucking up
I am one
When part of me is not lit
The rest follow suit
But it doesn’t stop you needing me up for a grand acceptance
I’ve come to realize
That you don’t look at me
You look at the neighbors who are looking at me
I need approval also you know
I can’t just be out trying to impress someone that you sometimes don’t know
I want to impress you
I want to be bright
But sometimes my anger closes the lights
Because impressing you is all I do
I just sit there and shine
Not like the stars
My wire is like a vine
As you try to have others
Bask in my artificial light
And after the ornaments get taken down
And it’s time to put away the tree
The inflatables outside, the ribbons go away, the portrait of the family that looks nice even if taken last May
The hugs die down
And you leave me up a little longer
Because taking me down now is a bother
So I rest on the streets for a few weeks
no one cares now
Maybe I should just die out
One bulb at a time
But when ones out the rest goes too
I know I am no longer of use to you
And you take me down
And grumble the whole time
Trying to get me down
Eventually you do
And you put me in a box
Marked
“ Xmas lites”
You
You can’t even
You can’t even spell my damn NAME right