A Christmas Tale

the lines grow longer 

 parking spaces at a premium 

cars inch along the roads

toward shopping emporiums 

to purchase too many items

 no one would buy in ordinary time 

christmas music fills the space

between shoppers carrying 

unwieldy packages

the closer it gets

the more frenetic the purchases 

credit cards flashed about

with wild abandonment

a child desires a particular toy

which is sold out everywhere

sending her parents

into a frenzy 

santa sits on his chair 

posing for photos

with children and dogs

one child cries 

when she spots

the space between

 Santa’s beard and face

she’s too young to learn about deception—

a birthday gone awry