(Poem 7 for 2024 – I am writing a poem a day)

My new candle wick trimmer
is golden, as shiny as the flame
buoyed by their snip snips.

I am pleased as punch with my purchase.
The Walgreens aisle at Christmas
is ablaze with glitter and foil.

Ornamental green and red wrapped
stocking stuffers lure procrastinators,
easy marks in the capitalism game.

And I know I’ve been had, but
decide to play along because
no one fills my stocking if I don’t.

And I buy into the TikTok trend that
I deserve a little of what I want this season…
I wonder if the rebel platform

was paid off by Walgreens
to tell me to think for myself
so I would also want to take home

a candle snuffer, new journal,
giant carabiner the size of my hand,
and chocolate-covered cherries.

@Home Studio – 7th poem of the year