After Christmas sales
Are soul-crashing 

They take 
The sliver of your being
And sell it with a 
Seventy percent discount
For you to use it again 
Next year 
When another Christmas 
Comes dressed in 
Golden brocade

It’s a year’s waiting
That we spend 
Cloaked in the fibers of
Hope

So when the holiday arrives
We can sport the newest outfits 
Of velvet miracles and love
Crafted from delicate silk

We await the magical 
Arrival of the season of joy
Where every bow and 
Every gift
Holds a special meaning 
That we carefully wrap 
In tissue paper 

But when Christmas raises his 
Hand for an annual farewell 
We toss all our ornaments 
After the departing sleigh

Pack up our singing reindeer

Close the book of 
Holiday prayers

And head for the 
Sales at the stores for
Next Christmas 

So we can stash away
Wrapping paper
Glittery presents
A piece of magic
To unwrap when
December knocks 
At our doors again

It’s almost as if 
We fear
The humble 
Silence
And quiet 
Solitude
That follow the
Bustling 
Weekdays 

For the next

Eleven 
Months