gospel according to excess


the White Queen
cried
what is this waste
that was
the Christmas
celebration

reminding me of
Fezziwig
and the few pounds it
took to make
a merry Christmas
for so many
people

and
Christmas is fine
and sad without it
but the point
is the excess
I guess
and all there it about it

what a waste
this Christmas is
and all
that is about it
and
do you keep the wrapping
paper pristine
or
relish
in the tearing of it
into useless parts

and then
with the trash bag
to go ‘round the tree
after
all the opening
is done

and it has been
a merry Christmas
so far

or a happy
birthday
or a Hanukkah
an Eid
or other celebration
of the wonder
in the living

and
if this is
waste
well
waste on

we need such
excesses
for tearing up the lines
the margins for our crayons
time to time

so
merry
anytime
and feel free to rip apart
(with some
small civility
perhaps)
bright paper
even the bag
it all
came in


c l couch


(English teacher notes)
The Chronicles of Narnia, "A Christmas Carol"



sweet-dreaming


why don’t we want
to sleep at
night
why do we ask instead
for one more story

one more sip of water
even a longer prayer
a bit of
conversation
with a grown-up
before

the lights are out
and we invest ourselves
inside
a blanket
and the sheet beneath

but here’s a wish
good night
good night
good night


clc



photo by Anton Darius on Unsplash 
(like a metal lion on the door, freed of its metal ring)