Christmas 2021

Unchosen pumpkins spilling like
Hopeful orphans who haven't been told
That it's November 1st. Don't they know?
Their orange cheeks still glow,
Noses high,
Unblemished rinds like wide, waiting eyes.
But it's time to move on. 
The people walk by 
Legless turkeys can't hold up their heads,
Pressed into boxes on the back of a  bed.
They travel along, cold wind on their flesh.
Suffer in life, suffer in death.
Uneaten turkey, we don't remember.
We've got work to do! 
It's the end of November!
Unchosen tree propped up all alone
In an empty lot as the cars come and go. 
It's December 26th, don't you know?
"Was my foliage too thin? Was I slightly askew?
We're my branches too long? Too many? Too few?
Maybe I was too far back in the queue.
They would rather a fake one, I heard them all grouse. 
They are always perfect
And don't leave brown needles all over the house."
Left over champagne, your bubbles all gone. 
Dumped down the drain. 
Now the year can move on.