Merry Christmas One and All

we play house,

a tree

goes up in the corner

for Christmas,

a string of lights,

a few

store bought ornaments

are hung.

a few

gifts are wrapped

and set below 

the dried out needles.

there is no joy

as we go through the motions.

if only she knew how much

i hate her,

would she finally leave?

if she only knew how

i cringe when i hear

the door open,

the jangle of her keys

when she comes home 

from work,

the heels coming

up the stairs, maybe then,

maybe then,

she'd go back to her married

boyfriend,

her felon ex husband,

her life of lies,

and leave.