The Tree

My dad should be home from work here soon. I always meet him at the door.

He likes it when I give him high fives, puppy kisses, and more!

I just heard a car door slam. I think it could be him!

I hope he brought me a pig ear, or a pack of puppy Slim Jims.

The door is opening slowly, he yells, “Everybody outside!”

What? No pig ear or puppy treats? But a much bigger surprise.

There’s a tree tied on the roof of my daddy’s SUV.

That thing is huge, I hope it doesn’t come tumbling down on me!

This is the day we decorate the tree. I remember from last year.

We played music, mom cooked a roast, and there was lots of Christmas cheer.

Dad and my brothers had a time getting it in the door.

By the time they stood it up, it was almost six feet four!

My sister was bringing up boxes from the basement down below,

With lots of sparkling tinsel and candles we can show.

Then dad took his finger and pointed straight at me.

He said your job from this moment on is keeping the cat out of this tree!

I took that job serious, but he was sneaky as can be.

One night he was drinking my water and eating my jerky treats!

I hear Mom in there cooking, gosh, it smells so good.

The house is very warm with the fireplace full of wood!

Everyone is decorating. It's over halfway through.

Mr. Fluffkins stay out of that tree, I have a job to do!

We have awesome decorations for everyone to see.

Balls and bells and ribbons and one with a picture of me!

Dad said “now for the best part…” it's in the trunk of Moms car.

He ran outside and came back in with a beautiful shining star!

Then dad said, “Who should put it on top?” I was hoping they would say me.

Then everyone said, “let’s let mom put it on top of the tree!”

She stood on a chair and did it. Finally, it was done.

That six foot four Fraser fir was the center of our fun.

Magnificent in all its glory, that tree was really the best.

Something to show off to family, friends, and guests.

Then a thought came to my mind, I thought about last year.

About when Christmas was over, beginning a new year.

Last year’s tree was beautiful, but when it stopped being fun,

After everyone received their gifts and all the unwrapping was done.

We stripped off all the pretty things, that tree of over 6 feet.

Roughly drug it down the driveway and tossed it beside the street.

Then I thought of people treated the same way.

Once their glitter and worth were gone, they just get thrown away.

Think of someone in your life you've not heard from in a while.

Send a card, make a call. Go that extra mile.

Inside, that person is still as beautiful as when they were in their prime.

Go tell them that you love them, while you still have time!

Merry Christmas!

(Jerry Wayne Baldwin; from “This K-9 of Mine”)

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I would like to thank Jerry Wayne Baldwin for his kind permission to publish his poems on my blog.

The book “This K-9 of Mine: Poetic short stories from a dog's point of view, plus a few from the owner's vantage point, too.” is available as Kindle version here.