Christmas

Christmas—a poem by Candace Cole-McCrea

 

Jingle bells     Jingle bells

Sparkle in the snow

 

Shadow of  young woman pressed against upstairs window

Light behind her

Full moon high above roof

 

Star light      Star bright

Sparkle in the snow

 

Can’t see her face

Blackness pressed against window

Light behind her down long hallway

Shadow of young woman pressed against upstairs window

Looking out towards tree of bright colored lights

Reflections in the snow

 

Jingle bells     Jingle bells

Sparkle in the snow

 

We wonder

My friend and I

Outside down below…

What does she feel…

How does it feel…   

To be locked in the upstairs ward of an institution

On Christmas

This holiest, merriest of days.

 

Jingle bells     Jingle bells

Star light         Star bright

Sparkle in the snow

 

Somehow

We do not feel a

Factory-produced, profit-making

Hallmark card

Of hope and good cheer

Is THE ANSWER.