On a Bench on the Otherside of the Mountain of Time

by Anonymous

I’m sitting on a bench today
Eyes closed, almost dozed
I feel an unexpected chill as the sun slipped behind the clouds
Reminding me
to Beware
that all too soon
Everywhere
Pumpkins
Then Turkeys
Then Christmas trees.

We cynical old men live to complain
About the screeching young at play
we seem
To be at odds with the general good feelings
In the seasonal times

“Why are you like this old man?”
Is a frequent refrain
Well let me tell ya son,
There’s a hurt down deep in this old brain

On this side of the mountain of time
Most things work
and many works divine

On the other side
The pumpkins
Then the turkeys
Then the Christmas trees
Now, The holy trinity
of holidays
Then, the tyranny
of wholly owned subsidiaries

“Devils Night” saw a hundred fires burning
A cruel mockery in the motor city.
The motor city cranking
Over
and over
and over
but would not start
That city had plenty of fire but the engine had no spark.
The nation had no heart

Giving thanks to God became
“Turkey Day” hurray!
thank you for your service
In Middle-Eastern wars
that serviced us not
But wasted our boys’ blood
Dead and still poor.

Thank you for the drugs, the porn,
the endless endless eating
Gluttony made us whores
Slut-illy stuffing the spaces
Meant to house our souls

By Black Friday we were primed
with free shipping
To take delivery of something
Anything, anything at all
Always looking to simulate
Brotherly love
but left holding nothing
at usurious rates.

Christ
what a joke,
The punchline?
Happy Holidays,
Season Greetings,
Just say anything, anything else
X-mas gonna give it to ya.

On my bench, the cloud has passed
Warm sunshine reaches into me
I feel an unexpected joy and vigor deep in my bones
Reminding me
To get ready
That none too soon
The beautiful traditions
Of the Pumpkins
Of the turkeys
Of the Christmas trees
Have found true meaning on this side of the mountain of time
A bountiful harvest from a blessed land
Gratitude for those that struggled before
And Recognition of the divine