Bleaching winter gales scorch
faces, bearing snow drifts
and wild bitterness

Storm windows shudder,
thwarting nature’s snow blast
and mild bitterness

Star in royal blue
sky of Christmas greeting
card soothes the bitterness

Brown paper gift bags,
bowls full of sugary mirth,
still one’s bitterness

Holly-green tissue
paper rustles in boy hands
crinkling bitterness

White noise from heat vents,
warm sisterhood of humans,
calms our bitterness

The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square performs the Austrian carol “Still, Still, Still,” arranged by Mack Wilber, during a Christmastime broadcast of Music & the Spoken Word

Poet’s Notes

The featured image is from Pixabay. The images within the post are by the poet. Merry Christmas, Wheat & Tares readers! Thank you for reading and providing thoughtful comments all throughout the year!