the christmas tree

there was the stolen Christmas
tree.
the unbalanced tree
that had
to be tied
to the rail, nailed
to the floor. there was
the tree where the needles
fell off
the first day.
the tree the cat ran up.
the too large
tree
that had to be cut
at the bottom,
then the top.
the tree that caught fire.
the tree
with sap.
the crooked tree, the tree
we cut down.
the tree we bought
at the church lot.
the tree
we all decorated together,
my father on a stool
putting the star
on top.
the tree we did alone
as my mother cried
at the darkened string,
sitting on the floor
as she tested
each bulb one at a time.