First World Problem (written 12/20/23) - Jan. 11, 2024

I stare at the Christmas cards

on the mantle   cracked open

like the mouths of fish

after a last breath

with the lights off  

bulbs and plastic snowflakes   

feel cheerless    out of place   

our fake pine tree seems dead

presents tucked under its hollow gloom

just a few days to go before

we celebrate the “Birth”

probably enough time

for my heavy clouds

to find a new home

don’t worry about me

it’s the kind of malaise

a lot of us have here now

and really any time of year

it's a First World problem