I Swallowed

An original, irreverent poem

Photo by Christopher Campbell on Unsplash

Some decades ago,
on the surface of my youth,
my innocence was poisoned.
I swallowed the gospel truth.

Soft parental words
declared so unintending:
this pair, Santa and Jesus,
they’re equally befriending.

Youth always believe
adult-talk as first disposed,
even when stiffly shady
and full of truth so bulldozed.

Santa and Jesus
If they’re real, then — Hooray, yes!
Who was I to pry or doubt
their material success?

These entities of
distinguished hyperfiction
swam in my childhood head
without any restriction.

Jolly St Nick with
presents and dreams coming true.
Dead Jesus with rigid creeds,
A crucifix with hard screws.

Santa left early
from life’s twisted squirrel cage,
leaving life and death behind
Jesus only as a gauge.