Christmas

Christmas is this thing
It's an enigma
There are many converging factors
That make this time of year equally hopeful
But equally stressful and plastic
Giving unrealistic ideas
That  can drive some people to poverty and insanity 
Within a mere week 
Sometimes within a day
I think the thing that makes this particular holiday special
Is the offering of hope and good will that it is supposed to stand for
Yet it's also the time of year when we are told that we must spend our money
Buy that big screen t.v.
Buy your hope 
Go broke trying to buy our penance
Spending money to wash away the guilt 
To feel like we have actually given something
To somehow feel like we can make up
For all the other times we didn't give
Or make up for the distance we have with our families
And somehow make up for all the times we weren't there.
And we somehow feel entitled to receive these gifts
And some people will actually feel mad
Even angry if no one gives them a gift on Christmas
Whether they have been naughty or nice
And then there are the people who are left out in the cold
Who have no family
No loved ones
No gifts
No hope
Who feel even more estranged 
And lost
And forgotten during this time
But even with that said
There is still a kernel of goodness and wisdom
To spreading good will to all men
And trying to spread hope and faith
For your fellow man
And trying to give just because we can
Instead of trying to receive something in return
I think that we need to imbue these qualities all year
Instead of trying to simply focus on them
When the holiday times comes
Giving to people just because you can
And sharing that empathy and good will
And showing people that you care
Just because you can
I think that if we were all to take these lessons to heart
We would all be a little better off

Reviews

[Barbara Walker]

Your thoughts are widom, personified! What good does it do to be giving for one day? How much more it would benefit humankind to think of those less fortunate 365 days a year. There should be no one without a roof over their head, a warm bed to sleep in and food for their body. Until these needs are met, they cannot put their mind and spirit to much else in life. Instead of going overboard one day a year, let's give something everyday!

[william keepers]

The spirit of giving cannot be measured in dollars and cents. At least I don't think so! Yes, there is an increase in anger and depression this time of year. I sometimes wonder if this is not rooted in our true nature, and that the exchange of material gifts is somehow not what it's about. The spirit of Christmas, (and every other day) as I see it should be about not allowing our fellow man to go sick, hungry and cold. The exchange of material gifts between "haves" and "haves" is a ridiculous notion when so many still suffer.

[Bound In Red]

Your poems always point out something that the world cares to ignore, but they always give hope. I really liked seeing how you view christmas.

[Elaine]

After reading this and much of your other work, I would really like to see you take a stab at poetic prose. I think you'd do very well with it

[Ahmad Cox]

Thank you. I will see if I can incorporate it into some more of my pieces. I tend to be more of a free flow writer where I just let whatever comes out of my head form as I am writing it.

[}Echo{]

I really like this. It's a wonderful write. :)

[Sugar Plum ♥]

I have to say, that poem descroibes EXACTLY my thoughts about christmas! It`s really amazing and great how much I feel the same, how this wonderful holiday of light has turn to something else, much lawer in spirit! when it`s christmas time now, i don`t feel happy at all, as I should be, bcs of poor people left out, but in same time someone just smile in a baad way if your gift has less value than his! why On this Holiday of God and in his name, we have to expect anything else than love and light and to warm our hearts by good words only!! and i don`t need any presents from my family or anyone, i just need their smiles and happiness and love and smiles of my friends! One greeting card is much more precious (many times) so big luxury gift, which I wouldn`t like....thank u so much for sharing this so true poem!
no♥r ~

[Ahmad Cox]

I had a feeling you would like it