Christmas Past

(December 9, 2002)
I wrote this as a Christmas "card" for a writing group I had the pleasure of being a part of. The group met monthly at the local Barnes & Noble. I was working 2 jobs (Waffle House nights and Applebee's days) and would give up my afternoon nap to attend. I couldn't sleep. My mind would continue to buzz after these creative, critiquing sessions!


Traditions remembered,
Memories enshrined;
Futures envisioned,
Pasts left behind.

Greeting card feelings,
Sentiments opined;
Gift giving lost meaning,
Wantonness fine dined.

Secular icons,
Religion maligned;
Material embraced,
The Spirit resigned.

Brilliance is dangled—
Invitations to blind.
Illumination replaced,
Truth redefined.

One chorus forgotten:
Perfection designed
For peace on this earth,
Good will to mankind.