chopping down the tree

my father

once pulled over at the side

of the highway

opened the trunk

and took

out an axe.

i watched him

from the back window,

as he took a slug

of his pint

of whiskey,

then went into the woods

and chopped down

a tree for Christmas.

the state park was full

of trees.

he dragged it back

to the car

and strapped it to

the roof with rope.

it was snowing,

and the woods looked

beautiful

along Mt. Vernon

Highway,

heading towards

the city.