New Year's Eve

Normal people wait until
Auld Lang Syne is sung,
Champagne drunk,
And bowl games watched,
To free the tree
Needles dropping,
Branches brittle,
From its shroud
Of lights and ribbon.

It's hard for me to be resolute,
Amid the chaos of
Santa,the Grinch,
And too many snowmen;
Tripping over
Plastic wise men and shepherds.

I'll be asleep at midnight.
Spent from my day of
Reorganizing,
Vacuuming,
And returning red and green boxes to the attic.
The mantle, covered by garland, stockings, Santa Claus and holly
Just a few hours ago,
Glossy white wood once more.
Reminding me of
Schoolday Septembers--
Notebooks filled with crisp blank pages.

-originally published 1/06