New Hostilities [revised] Poem by Margaret Alice Second

You watch reality TV, British celebrities illustrating
their own Christmas dishes while I want to watch
fantasy movies with tinkling glass dolls animating,
failed magicians saving others by illusions, robots
helping old men with heists

Then you tell me off in strident terms for eating
forbidden bread - today’s happy, floating feeling
completely flees, the atmosphere changes, we’re
worlds apart - my glittering snowflakes and nativity
scene are banished from the main sitting room:

Snowflakes and sheep and baby Jesus covered
in gold - the results of my more zealous phase,
we’re smothered in disappointment by these new
hostilities, you watch your reality TV and I’ll live in
my preferred fantasy world…

[26 December 2013]


[ORIGINAL: ]

You watch reality TV, British celebrities illustrating
their own Christmas dishes, I want to watch fantasy
movies with tinkling glass dolls coming alive, failed
magicians saving others using illusions, robots to
help old men with heists

After you told me off in strident terms for eating the
forbidden bread the atmosphere changed, the happy
feeling floating me through the day completely went
away, we are worlds apart - my glittering snowflakes
and nativity scene banished from

The main sitting room: snowflakes and sheep and baby
Jesus covered in gold - the result of my more zealous
phase, disappointment with the new hostilities, you
watch your reality TV and I watch my fantasy…

[24 December 2013]