RITUAL
(second tier decorations)
By Anthony Buccino
In the cold attic
they wait.
The heat of summer
long gone,
the chill of December
wheezing through
eave vents,
we pull down
drop-stairs
and peer into
the darkness above.
Flip the light,
start shifting boxes
hand them down
to the second floor.
Sort house decorations
to the top of the stairs,
boxes of ornaments
and tree lights
into the spare room.
Boxes done,
light off, stairs up.
Begin the first floor boxes.
Sorting and primping.
The singing mouse goes on the TV.
The snowman collection to the mantel.
The Santa collectibles to the breakfront.
The mistletoe to the doorway,
and the wire mesh basket
to the finishing nail
on the back of the front door
to await Christmas cards
that will overflow.
The tree light box decorations
to the end of the sofa
next to the three-foot stuffed Santa.
Another Santa sits on the stairs
awaiting cover of darkness
to trip someone. (Usually me.)
And on and on it goes
for hours
until all the good decorations
are out
and the second tier decorations
are back in their boxes,
the boxes that go
up to the attic
to await the passing
of the holiday
when all the ornaments
will be together again
in the silent darkness
of our attic.
© 2010 by Anthony Buccino
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