Bargain Trees and Tinsel 

The old ornaments are unboxed again

Once tangled lights are now without knot

Through the door comes the tree

At least twice as large

As looked while still on the lot

 

Back outside it goes for trunk surgery

Pine needles cover the floor

Its lost some of its height

But its girth is the same

When its squeezed back in the front door

 

The parched pine is stuck in its Christmas tree stand

It leans pretty hard to the right

After several attempts

It’s mostly straight so the

Trunk screws are twisted in tight

 

Against all odds, transformation unfolds

Its light now illumines the room

Looped strings of beads

And baubles are placed

Hiding gaps as big as the moon

 

Finally, it’s time to tinsel the tree

Requiring a great deal of flare

When long silver strands

Of flowing foil strips

Are artfully flung through the air

 

With flourishing sweeps and grandiose leaps

The kids have a wild tinseling spree

A lot ends up on the floor but

Much to Mom’s surprise,

Some of it lands on the tree

 

What began as a mere sale-priced specimen

Stands aglow beaming hope and light

It’s truly a thing of beauty –

If you tilt you head

And squint your left eye real tight

 

~ P. D. McMilian