holiday's Joys' Mixed woes

the bittersweet aspects of all of life

remove the tinsel and mistletoe
from the christmas tree, i do
with every bit removed
goes with it too,
another clinging memory
a stripped tree, i see
staring blankly back at me
naked branches speaking silently
reminding me of another 
bitter sweet year - 
gone
and with it fond
memories of laughter 
and love of family
mixed with these thoughts,
the sound of cries
of those that died
in Missouri and parts back midwest
or thereabouts
in tornadoes’ cruel hand 
of whirling winds and driving rains
floods my head, makes me mix
with ponderous thoughts,
of yet, so many woes of those 
on this bitter sweet world,
who didn’t make it - died,
along with countless others
in other varied transglobal parts of earth
did not make it to see,
another christmas or upcoming new years day 
nature’s tragedy and cruel human hearts
with violence stole them away
leaving grieving ones behind, 
emptiness and pain
the tree i’ve stripped of christmas clothes
stands now ready for fire’s fuel
i light aflame in my backyard
a standing effigy of all those that died
who didn’t live to see 
another christmas, or 2016's new year’s day