And The Christmas Emmy Goes To... Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

the imaginary toy company
spitting out Christmas toys
secretively

behind the high hedge
behind our school
behind the back of

the Christmas beyond
we sneak outside in between
classes, just missing the bells

if only we had more time...
one Christmas when Grandmother
was sick the packages were labeled

on the back to separate the toys from
those of a neighbor doing double duty
shopping, her angels and us.

look my sister said in awe
they're labeled.
and unwrapped them while I watched

beneath the Tree-in marveling glee

then wrapped them up again
meticulously.
we thought we'd beat the game of

waiting. but Christmas morning
there were no surprise.
just our rather too wide eyes.

mary angela douglas 25 october 2015