December Earthquake

Unflinchingly domestic look at the shuddering of earthly layers.

The big tree in the yard was swaying
even though there was no wind.

The Christmas tree was still upright
but the ornaments were swinging.

I went outside to look for you. The ground
beneath my feet continued springing.

I saw our neighbor’s house shake off
its front door wreath. Another neighbor

continued blowing leaves down the street.
Your text said you’d left to send some mail

but the power at the post office failed
and they couldn’t swipe your card.

Getting these packages off in time
for Christmas was going to be hard.

You shared a video your mother shared
of water leaping out of the frame

of her neighbor’s pool. You suggested
it looked like flame, only blue and pale.

All is safe and clear of danger, came
the notification from the elementary school.

Back inside, I noticed the manger
still holding Baby Jesus

but Mary and Joseph and the wisemen
and the shepherds and the sheep

and the donkeys and the angels all lay on their side.
Actual aftershocks abated.

Imagination’s intensified.

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FYI: There are a handful of CHRISTMAS POEMS (chapbook) left. If you order one by this weekend, they’ll be sent out on Monday, so it should reach you before Christmas.

All apologies to international readers. Shipping is prohibitively expensive to almost anywhere outside the U.S., but I will gladly email a pdf to paid or free subscribers. Just let me know in a comment and we’ll get it sorted.

CHRISTMAS POEMS contains 10 Christmas-themed poems by me. It is illustrated, printed, and hand-sewn by printmaker/artist LK James. The poems straddle doubt and faith, satire and sincerity, etc.

Most but not all of these poems have appeared in some form in this newsletter.

An ideal stocking stuffer for anyone who loves or suffers the holiday season. Become Santa with it.

“December Earthquake” is also a Christmas poem, but the earthquake occurred after this thing went to print, so, if we make a similar book next year, it probably will be in that one.

Thank you for reading and supporting.