the holidays

the holiday wringing
of hands has already
begun. i saw several
women bent over
and crying in the grocery
store, trembling as
they tried to decide
which turkey to buy.
counting the pounds
as they looked at their
list of guests, pondering
who will, or might
not come.
there was a report
on the radio that
three santas have
already been shot
as they relentlessly
rang their bells
in front of their swinging
metal pots. i saw
my neighbor
out the window
using a pair of
his wifes sewing scissors
to untangle
a tumble weed of cords
and lights. he was singing
madly the christmas
song as he drank his
morning egg nog,
dancing in his red
holiday socks.