Ghosts of Christmas
Wow it's Christmas again! It's that time of year to start playing Wham at 6.30am while cracking open the bucks fizz allowing yourself a glass or 7 and saying "well it is Christmas"... as the living room becomes consumed by wrapping paper and there's more chocolate on the floor than actual carpet give yourself a pat on the back because WE MADE IT! another year, and what a year is was!
I like poetry, like all writing. I’m not good at it admittedly however it’s an outlet that’s creative and enjoyable, I used to write a lot when I was younger but stopped in my 20s. So I guess it is a bit of a mix up of ‘Twas the night before Christmas,’ featuring the three ghosts of 'A Christmas Carol'. The inspiration for it is because anxiety doesn’t stop just because it’s Christmas. It can be a really triggering time of year for people and that’s ok.
I guess this poem is all about the ghosts that haunt us in the forms of our memories or ‘Christmas past’. They haunt us, jump out, stealing our peace. I used the ghost of our ‘Christmas present’, to reference how living in the moment and taking small steps can sometimes be tricky and not as easy as it should be. Lastly 'Christmas future', the anxiety of what might come next, having little control can be stressful. However like all art it’s subjective and open to interpretation.
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there…
When all of a sudden a knock at the door revealed a large dark shadow with memories galore.
Threatening my peace that had kindly been gifted,
I heard a rattling noise when the silence had lifted.
“Three ghosts will visit” spoke the shadowy figure.
Leaving me shook in a state of a quiver.
“It’s all in my head, it’s totally fine” I whispered as I poured some wine.
Memories they come and go, but being triggered can break one’s soul.
The ghosts of my Christmas past were first to arrive, reminding me of what I survived.
Chaos and rage filled my head, my body ached as I lay in bed.
The ghosts of Christmas present was next to appear, but made it clear I need not fear.
The ghosts of Christmas Future my biggest distress.
Knowing I can’t control the future no more, no less.
I asked “are you friend or foe?”
To which they reply “you should not know”
My body grew heavy, my eyes started too close.
I drifted to slumber, while counting number to number…
The ghosts were still there, fighting for space.