Bah Humbug
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Don’t believe in holiday season.
Don’t believe in family traditions.
Bah humbug to one and all.
What do you think you are doing?
Go on get out of here
Take your holiday junk with you.
Yes, take your thoughts and words
Christmas, Chunakkah, Kwanza.
Hypocrite words abound
Happy, Merry, Peace, or Joy.
Magical beliefs without reason
Or truth for the masses.
A little war here.
A bigger bomb there.
Threaten extinction tomorrow,
Promise it just in case.
How can our spirit sustain
Belief of goodness?
The media news is ever negative,
Mayham, murder, theft, or larceny.
Yet, the spirit is there afresh each day
Passed on from mother to child
A tale of mystery and love
Shared one generation to the next.
Then in moment anonymous
Someone’s layaway gift is paid off.
A gold coin is found
In a ringer’s red bucket.
Into an empty hand
A stranger presses a $100.
Groceries, gifts are gathered
Then distributed to those who have need.
There exists both unbelief and belief
Amongst the crowd of you and me.
The spirit is very much alive
Alive in the generosity of strangers.
It is ignited by love
Love of neighbor to neighbor.
It is kept alive and kindled
By caring stranger to stranger.
The spirit is growing
Growing with the optimism of tomorrow.
Retired after 42 years working for a major I/T company in technical, programming, customer service and management positions. Since retiring I have been enjoying hobbies of painting and wirewrapping semi-precious stones for necklaces. I have been writing prose and stories for ten years. Since retiring I have met some extraordinary writers who have encouraged me. I look forward to continuing to write and help others to do the same.
Tags: chunakkah, extinction, family traditions, generosity, gold coin, groceries, holiday season, hypocrite, kwanza, larceny, layaway, little war, magical beliefs, neighbor, optimism, red bucket, ringer, thoughts and words, unbelief
Thought provoking and timely.
Frank, this poem summarizes how I was feeling this season. I was overwhelmed with each year trying to top the last. After hearing about all of the random acts of kindness from this season, it has gotten me in the holiday spirit…the REAL holiday spirit.
Well done!
@Larry.. Thank you.
@J&T.. Thank you. I have been overwhelmed by the Jeckle and Hyde personalities that are being exhibited worldwide. It was stirring to see the pay it forward attitude of “do-gooders.” It has made for a beautiful Holiday Season and has given me the sprouts of optimism for 2012.