All the Trimmings

Joe hadn't spoken to anyone in three months
weekends shut in, and now the festive period
was crawling into view
with dread in its locks and bleakness in his house

Joe forced himself to go for a walk,
on such a cold and winter's day,
down to St Luke's
he would never venture inside,
he wasn't that desperate
but there was a glowing structure in the grounds
strangely alluring in the afternoon gloom
maybe a nativity scene
it couldn't hurt to take a closer look
find some minor amusement at the tableau
of angels and farmyard animals

Joe was too close to turn back when he realised
it was just a hut selling Christmas trees
'Can I help you mate?'
for Christ's sake he couldn't just leave
and he wasn't in the market for a
mansized fir companion
'Last few remaining mate, I can do you
a very reasonable deal'

Joe opened his voice and tried to explain
his vision of the nativity and
how he didn't really celebrate Christmas
'I get it mate, I really do. We should
focus on the core message and ignore all
the modern sideshow. Even I can see that.
Tenner each though. All gotta go.'

Joe lugs his mansized fir companion
back up the road. Might as well
buy a turkey now