Play Money Christmas And More Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

in the play money days we thought ourselves well off.
Monopoly money, bills of every candy coloured denomination.
thinking ourselves rich one Christmas tide

of board games galore unwrapped

my sister and I ran down the hill the day after
thinking we could buy every chocolate drop and more
at the corner candy store of a neighbor.

and actually came back home with a few that day
where no one had the heart to tell us, right away
the money wasn't real.

same thing with the Claus when we understood
the Eve my grandfather hammered his thumb at midnight
putting together a lovely gunmetal green desk

for us- who was the real St. Nicklaus.
and that not every tick tock comes in
all the colours at once.

gradually these things fade.
then come back into view
without the red plastic View Master.

without even, trips to the Store.

in fresh giftwrap
delighting once more.

mary angela douglas 15 november 2015