XOXO

by Paul Tristram / December 6th, 2020

Her Christmas Tree is just Fantastic
… she has put a hell of a lot
of thought into decorations this year
… even though there will be
only two visitors to actually see it
[in the flesh, so to speak],
friends from Art Therapy Classes.
Her family has disowned her,
and she couldn’t give a… [bad word]
… because her once lonely heart
has finally found ‘LOVE’ at last
… and her head now buzzes alive
with frustration, impatience,
and a warm, joyful Springtime.
She’s scanned all his prison letters,
and after filing away the originals,
she’s food dyed the copies
lots of different pretty colours,
and then expertly origamied them
into Sakura and Augustar stars
… with the very same thoughtful,
skilful, delicate craftsmanship
which he showed to his Victims.
In place of an Angel up at the top
there is a photoshopped picture
of them both [together] smiling…
each [almost matching] section
… was taken several years apart.
There are no gift-wrapped boxes,
or ribboned-parcels at the bottom
… only a single manila envelope,
which contains an Airline Ticket,
for her very first trip to America…
and that completely nerve-wracking,
yet, exhilarating initial visit
to her baby-bunchkin on ‘Death Row’.

Paul Tristram is a widely published Welsh writer who deals in the Lowlife, Outsider, and Outlaw genres.  He wrote his first poem as a teenager following his release from the (Infamous) Borstal ‘HMP Portland’, and he has been creating Literary Terrorism ever since.  His novel ‘Crazy Like Emotion’ is available to purchase right here . Also his collection of shorter fiction Kicking Back Drunk ‘Round The Candletree Graves' is available to purchase at https://bookgoodies.com/a/B0DFMTSR4F Both books are published by Close To The Bone Publishing. Read other articles by Paul, or visit Paul's website.

This article was posted on Sunday, December 6th, 2020 at 8:04am and is filed under Poetry.