Yo Ho Ho!

Yo Ho Ho!

The candles flicker and smoke,

almost fully burnt out,

masking tell-tale aromas

of wind, cabbage and sprout.

Cold leftovers fill the fridge,

last remains of the year,

the black dog’s my companion,

as I battle the fear.

Why does the festive season

make me melancholic?

Guzzling wine and beer like a     

drouthy alcoholic?

Life seems an unwanted gift,

a pile of pants and socks,

an underwhelming present,

in an over-sized box.

Pictures appear over the brow

Of my growing belly,

charity ads on a loop

roll over on telly.

Catch yourself on- you could be

that guy out on the street,

a human wrapped in cardboard,

craving kindness and heat.

First world concerns don’t compare,

simply life is a prize,

for that Palestinian child,

with tears filling brown eyes.

I should buck my ideas up,

pretend to look merry,

a push with my frozen face,

dead eyes fixed and starey.