Pretty lights twinkle from house-gutters
Alternating brightness as we putter ...
Trees shaped at night by blinking lamps
Lawns covered by decorations, stamped
Forever in our minds ... those images seared
Neighbors trying to outdo each other - geared
To be the one whose lights are bigger and brighter
Leaving us all wondering just who's the tighter ...
Generosity shows itself in very many ways ...
Look for other things than those who pay ...
Exorbitant amounts to show themselves to be
Wearing so much bigger boots than you and me
- Tristram
(c) Christopher W. Thomas
1:45pm Tues. Dec. 22nd, 1998