Saturday Special: Norma's Twelfth Night Tree

Keeping those winter lights glowing longer is becoming more acceptable.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Norma’s Twelfth Night Tree

Its pliant limbs held trinkets collected
over years of children's crafts.
Tattered feathers, glittered foil wearing thin,
chains of faded paper, popcorn, kisses draped
in sagging array around its fragrant boughs.
Wrappings flared into technicolor flames
upon the grate of her Victorian fireplace.
Crystal rang with champagne salutes.
Santa Claus cheer echoed through the old year’s wane.
January clouded hearts with mundane cares.
The tree pressed lights against the murky sun.
Norma trimmed dried out limbs
filled the base with water every day,
Must keep the tree alive for Twelfth Night
she'd say, let’s try for May this year.
By April Fool’s, a naked pole leaned against the wall
nothing but a string of lights remained
spiraling around a once proud ponderosa.
It fulfilled its task: to keep our spirits bright
through the darkest moments of our fears.

If you enjoyed this poem, feel free to check out the Ring Around the Basin Archives.