The boys have pitched into a melodic chatter
Mr Abshner called and boasted the thirteen foot tree to be even fatter
Present you weren’t for the first, the second, and now, with the third tree
being delivered.
The first year without your presence
I avoided a tree but the boys shattered resistance
With a small bit of money, to the tree lot we went
We lost Samuel for a second, deep in the truck he slipped
He pointed to the largest tree, set off to the side
Protest I started, with a heavy sigh
but Mr Abshner sternly resolved,
he only dealt with the son of five years old
Samuel showed him the money
Joseph grinned with wonder
I proclaimed the ceilings of eight feet only
Mr Abshner exclaimed that he would deliver and trim the tree to sit
The lopsided tree was rejected by the church and his daughter, seemingly unfit.
I sat on my stairway waited and thought
The tree even a lopsided one would be disgraced if cut
The foyer was tall enough, but yet too skinny
Unless you preference entry by window or chimney
I looked outside and decided under the front porch atrium was best
The neighbors would relish the evidence that I had one brick less
Mr Abshner and I heaved the tree up
When a streak of green and a groan emerged from atrium top.
The tree was too tall, I almost admitted defeat
Then I rallied onto the lawn not to be beat
So we wrestled the tree up to the outside of our house
Secured it with rachets, tie downs and straps
We harvested the other outside decorations to adorn our tree
The three of us with a tender friend gathered on the lawn and beamed.
Our oldest said softly, words, carefully chosen:
“Now Daddy can look down, and see, our Christmas Tree from heaven.”
Awards « Growthlines. . . said,
23/12/2011 at 23:42
[...] to the “blogging table”. A part of the feast recently was Slowmoto.me’s posts Harvesting Tinsel and Walking [...]
GrowthLines... said,
22/12/2011 at 23:39
I love that our children often show us the sensibility in what we think is an accident or last ditch effort. It’s in those moments that we discover the comfort in our grief. Thank you for the poetic telling of your story.
Homepage said,
17/12/2011 at 11:23
… [Trackback]…
[...] Read More: slowmoto.me/2011/12/03/harvesting-tinsel/ [...]…
belfastdavid said,
10/12/2011 at 07:04
This is so moving -
Sad but yet uplifting at the same time.
My very best wishes to you for Christmas
David
mypastmademe said,
04/12/2011 at 18:43
I am so sorry for your loss. Your poem is beautiful and heartbreaking. May the memories you shared in bygone years somehow, this year, fill your heart and allow some joy to shine through. I love this quote (Henry Scott Holland): “You have not left; you are only in the next room.”
Thomas Davis said,
04/12/2011 at 11:07
May the blessings of this season enliven the dark season and remind us all of the human family that stretches back to the plains, forests, and seas of Africa, the cradle of our spirits, the beginning of who we are and who will follow.
Caddo Veil said,
04/12/2011 at 02:44
Oh my goodness, this grabbed my heart–beautiful. I’m so sorry for your loss. Kids say things in a phenomenally personal way, don’t they? I wish you healing blessings of the season.