12/5/08 Poem

The children and their families perambulated like shoppers on Black Friday into the neighborhood Christmas party. Mothers magisterially shoved blameless children, not belonging to themselves, out of their perfect angel's way to espy upon the
Exultant One himself: Santa Claus. The arid air outside felt crisp and clean as the brisk wind breathed against my skin. Seemingly ideal weather for the occasion, however, not glacial enough that the imitation snow ahead would not sodden the grass where it had been placed. Fidgetting boys and girls waited in line for a train ride while one covetous mother sneered at another whose Gucci tote was significantly larger than her Louie hobo bag mentally noting to add an upgrade to her Christmas list. These parents seem to have forgotten the original purpose of attending this Christmas celebration. They seem to have misplaced inside their hearts and minds the passion they felt for the season as a child. The savory smells that filled the house when the Christmas Day feast was being prepared, the feeling as if Mexican jumping beans had found their way into your stomach as the anticipation to see what Santa brought this year grew, the enraptured expressions on everyone elses faces in the room while they opened their gifts as if it was the last one they would ever receive, the sight of Uncle Tom wiping the thick egg-nog mustache off his upper lip. If they could find these memories within themselves, maybe the holiday season could regain its meaning.

arid- (adj.) marked by little or no precipitation or humidity
enraptured-(adj.) experiencing or marked by overwhelming usually pleasurable emotion
espy- (verb) to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes
exultant- having or expressing feelings of joy
fidget- (verb) to make jerky or restless movements
glacial- (adj.) having a low or subnormal temperature
magisterial- (adj.) overbearing, agrressive
perambulate- (verb) form of walking
sneer- (adj.) to express scornful amusement by means of facial contortions
sodden- (adj.) containing, covered with, or thoroughly penetrated by water