Gift Wrapped
Thoughts, desires, emotions
Carefully wrapped and stowed under the tree
Fear in its black box
Jealousy tied up in green tissue paper
With a bow and mistletoe atop
Grief in midnight blue with glittery stars
That catch the light from the boughs above
Flame-red wrapped anger off to one side
Six of them bottled together in a wine carrier
Standing side-by-side for support
They need each other
To combat the milky white be-ribboned love chimes
Hate is beautiful in deep velvet cloth of rich earth tones
Little pink spun sugar plums of hope
Fall apart at the merest touch
Sliver baubles of frustration
Gossamer winged anxiety festoons the branches
Yet here comes the big, golden, shiny ball of happiness
Rolling towards the tree
Gathering momentum
Ready at any moment to topple and trounce
Such a carefully erected edifice
How I love to see a grown tree topple
DM Ward came to writing late in life and is making up for lost time now by putting pen to paper at every available opportunity. Having returned to the UK in 2023 after living in the US for nearly 30 years, I’m just an old broad from the Old Country, born and raised in England – children now grown, recently retired from my fourth ‘career’ and spending as much time as possible on the creative life. What lies within intrigues me, how it manifests excites and bewilders me. We live in such a frenzy of instant information, tied to constant interaction while yearning for simplicity. Utterly connected and disconnected all at the same time. Take time out for art. That way lies sanity, joy, peace of mind.
