On Loan With Good Credit And Leased Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

I don't think you understand,
From which environment I've come.
You may have visions of changing seasons.
With dressed up turkeys and talking trees.
Dancing sugarplums and snowmen smoking on pipes.
And snowflakes smiling as they drift through the breeze.

Not a reindeer flew off any project building I lived in.
And I remembered waiting to see this!
And the gunshots heard?
Weren't from chestnuts roasting in an open fire.
And the frost nipping on our noses then...
Jack had nothing to do with that.
A lack of money to pay the oil bill...
Delivered many realities.

When we played in the snow...
And returned to heat our hands on exposed radiators,
Whistling from steam...
We went to our respective homes,
To make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
IF the bread was there.

I don't think you understand,
From which environment I've come.
You may have visions of changing seasons.
With dressed up turkeys and talking trees.
Dancing sugarplums and snowmen smoking on pipes.
And snowflakes smiling as they drift through the breeze.

However...
I did grow up with many folks with those fantasies.
The same ones now finding it difficult,
To believe.
And accept.
Life!
As it is!
Knowing they've already had that life.
As it was wished to be!
On loan with good credit and leased.

Now many are forced to pay those debts.
And disgraced in places where truth is faced!
Hoping to find a good excuse to escape,
From the close hold of too much reality!

'Can you please loosen your hold a bit?
I don't intend to get too familiar with this! '