Monday, December 16, 2013

Memories on a Tree

Memories on a Tree
by Annette Baesel      


A
gold
silver glass
 globe worn thin,
 the oldest, reflects
 the merry years of trees.
 A tiny polka-dotted red ball
replaced the one that fell, broke to
splinters. White lacy snowflakes, first
 ornaments for a bare apartment when a
scrawny Charlie Brown tree was perfect.
A crystal angel nests in the heart of the pine
 blessing lives braided into a single long plait.
 A small green pickle, hidden deep, brings luck
 and laughter.  A round red bell says I Love Grandma,
dangles in its place on a low branch. Etched bronzed
hounds race through the tree scaring the winged black cat
named Mabel. Yellow kayak and oar, sea otter, snowshoes
 speckled blown glass salmon, tokens from a time in rainy cedar
 forests.  Painted glass peonies, amaryllis, iris, reminder of spring
 in four seasons country. Delft Dutch shoe, cable car, sea shell,
cactus in a cowboy hat, Canadian Mountie moose, Peruvian llamas,
 tell tales of journeys far. A simple heart of multicolored beads made
by tiny hands a reminder of early years and mother love.
Regiments of scarlet coated nutcrackers
Santa-hatted Scooby-Doo
oversee the cast of soldiers,
 gnomes,  ballerinas, ponies,
echoes of Christmas past.

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