ODE TO A TWO-FOOT K-MART CHRISTMAS TREE [12-18-20, repeat]

 ODE TO A TWO-FOOT K-MART CHRISTMAS TREE [12-18-20, repeat]

 

[This is a repeat from Dec. of 2016. It is even more applicable this year. Last year, after Christmas, Helen put it on the patio, with outdoor lights, assuming/hoping the winter would ruin it and we could get something new. But when spring came, one of us stuck it in the garage, unsure how to trash it, since it wasn’t really eligible for regular Christmas tree pickup, nor for regular garbage pickup, waiting to figure out what to do with it. Then the pandemic hit, and we couldn’t go get something else, and Helen dutifully cut off all the old lights that no longer worked, and searched through the closets until she found some little lights that would work, then carefully chose the few ornaments it would take. All the more important, since we will be staying home this year, enjoying our little tree.]

Helen is an excellent and enthusiastic seasonal decorator. Christmas has always been her favorite time for decorating, but when we moved from a large house to a small condo 18 months ago, she bravely gave up our big Christmas tree and a lot of decorations.

Still, I had to hang as many shelves as possible on the walls of our narrow one-car condo garage to accommodate the remaining decorations. Yesterday I took down 16 boxes—some large, some not quite as large--and a wreath.

16 is actually a smaller number than last year. We learned in our first condo Christmas that some things were not necessary. We did add one thing last year, though, and Helen has been very brave about accepting it, in part because last year and this year, we did not host Christmas, for the first times, but instead go to daughter Katie’s house. She has a really big tree.

Anyway, I thought it wise to write a poem about our new condo Christmas tree, in honor of Helen’s gracious acceptance of a smaller Christmas. It’s not long, but you can sing it…

ODE TO A TWO-FOOT K-MART CHRISTMAS TREE

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree

How shortened are your branches.

You stand upon a table round

You’re much too short to be on the ground

Your ornaments do not make a sound

Gifts beneath you cannot be found

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree

How shortened are your branches

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree

Forever short your stature.

But your tiny lights bring large delight

We smile when you are in our sight

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree

Size is no measure of pleasure

 

John Robert McFarland