Christmas Of A Broken Child

Oh Christmas tree
how lovely….

Mama hated
all things Christmas.
It took her back
to dreams drowned
in her dad’s cheap booze
and the hungry stomach
of poverty.

My sisters and I
were too young
in the monochrome days
of our childhood
to grasp why bitter
always hung from the tinsel.

It was when
we were grown women
we came to understand
it was a broken inner child
who placed dolls among
complaints of falling needles.


©Susie Clevenger 2013


 Peggy at Real Toads prompted us to write about Christmas memories. I have been thinking a lot recently about my mother. Christmas was a difficult time for my sisters and I growing up, but it is through my own emotional healing I realized the pain of my mother. As with any poem you write what moves you at the moment you sit down with a pen. 

Wednesday With Peggy

















Comments

Sherry Blue Sky said…
A fantastic write, Susie, and I elate.....I had a broken inner child too after all the drinking and poverty. But thankfully when it came to Christmas, it was wonderful and magical when they were kids. I went nuts and magic happened in our tiny living room. Sigh. Not nearly the magic now everyone is grown. Even the grandkids are grown now. Yikes.
December 18, 2013 at 9:15 PM
Marian said…
argh, tryin to hold on and give my littles something else, something not tinged with bitter. oh it's hard to do. thank you for this, Susie.
December 18, 2013 at 10:28 PM
Vandana Sharma said…
Childhood days are like this always:)
December 18, 2013 at 11:17 PM
Kerry O'Connor said…
I admire this poem very much, and the way you were able to step back from the personal pain to write poetry in such a way as to make your theme universal. Each stanza holds the attention, and the poetic language is superb.
December 19, 2013 at 3:09 AM
Anonymous said…
Broken children seems more the norm anymore, or has Christmas ever been the idyllic we have in our minds? Love this Susie you were able to write of the pain yet of the hope of healing. Great write.
December 19, 2013 at 9:58 AM
Maude Lynn said…
This is incredibly powerful in its honesty, Susie.
December 19, 2013 at 10:13 AM
Sumana Roy said…

'monochrome days'...a very poignant description of the old world....very profound....love this
December 19, 2013 at 10:30 AM
Pealogic said…
Strong and so, so sad.
December 19, 2013 at 3:04 PM
Kay L. Davies said…
"bitter always hung from the tinsel" — there was drinking in my childhood, too, but the joy of having it stop when I was 11 was sufficient to wipe away any bitterness. I can, however, understand every word you say, and can still relate.
K
December 19, 2013 at 4:19 PM
Peggy said…
Quite and amazing poem. There is understanding as well as sadness in your words and you say just enough. Thanks so much for posting this!
December 19, 2013 at 6:10 PM
Susan said…
Very vivid. An exorcism of sorts. How very sad for the mother.
December 19, 2013 at 9:32 PM
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