it is christmas eve

it is christmas eve

and the middle aged folks in the Walmart

are preparing to kedge.

there is charisma and desperation in the parking lot.

breedbates, shredded dolls, and plastic twisty-ties.

draffsacks and flashing light.

and fire.

and then there are the quiet folks,

telling their stories to Evan Williams,

whispering to Burnett and McCormick,

tears in their eyes,

laughing all the way up Heaven Hill

with as much chaos inside them

as the pageant permits.

"It is what you make of it," they say.

"It is whatever you want it to be."