For Posterity - Dec. 8, 2025

up from the flat box stretches

an accordion of green plastic

bristles, crumpled bows,

glossy pinecones and

silver-gold Christmas balls

hooked to a thin emerald trunk

of aluminum, it cascades like an

1850’s hoop skirt for a woman -

spiky fabric sewn with starlight

a pre-made homage for the holy

sacrifice, a factory-trimmed celebration

set up in three-minutes to honor

the tortured days of Jesus

here in the 21st century

the plastic in the tree is a

fraction of what constructs the

millions of gifts to be exchanged

an artificial season of giving

forced on us each year by a

synthetic disguise called Christmas

for posterity I record:

Try the pine spray

as my nose turns away,

wishing it had another job