Presents Now and Once Upon a Time

by Brett Robertson

Fresh tree; but, stand was in the shed year 'round.
It from the "getin' place" (still others there)
With broken life-sized Santa's ply-wood wound
'Neith dusty hay--though spied with mousy stare.
Chipped red metallic rust (these other stands).
Chipped red the leaning shed. Chipped Santa's hands.

Oh, bracken water sipped the rough hewn tree!
Mom's best-white linen draped the rusty cup
in snowless mound. While snow it still could be
to child of five or six--his hopes propped up
Like dying pine--not child of six gone nine
Propped up like Santa...once upon a time.

The presents wrapped with patterns (nine or ten)
From paper rolls all boughten twelve per pack
And purchased ribbon--bows we used again;
Though, bow and ribbon never did we lack.
For twelve to fifteen days the presents buy
And guess them all we couldn't--though we'd try.

Christmas Eve we waited for our father.
He closed the grocery store to sit and sup.
"Presents now?" we'd beg and fuss and bother
Till all from turkey dinner we'd rise up.
So with the dishes from the table cleared,
The presents each our own were commandeered.

Each adult in their adult places got--
My father's favorite chair my mother's too.
For playing "Santa," toothpicks we'd draw lot
(The shortest splinter each we hoped we drew
'Cause "short straw" read the tags and passed-out treats
Our names called out...placed boxes 'round our seats).

From young to old we'd open each their all
While others watched us tear into each one.
"Now who's that from?" my mom would sometimes call
If we'd forget to read the "to" and "from".
From Memo, Papa: shirt and pants, a pair:
From "Mom and Dad" some socks and under-wear.

by rBERTS%n

Christmas Poems
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