Gary Edward Geraci

The Scandal of the Lights

Handsome rows of homes were well lit 

until recently, 

Christmas Day. 

Red, blues, and greens flashing and sparkling 

commercial glee and secular fantasy, 

a few lone Nativity scenes. No sooner than 

the Day 

had past so too these lights have been swallowed 

up, so soon it seems. 

Oh but those scandalous few who 

dare to shine on, plugging in anyway, 

you know they’re likely to greet you 

“Merry Christmas” 

a week past the Epiphany, 

and all through the “Christmas Weekdays” 

that govern their calendars;

international feast days; to dine 

and binge right up to the day of 

the “Baptism of the Lord.” 

Those non-imposing gentle lights; 

proposing, softly shining luminaries 

now well into the worldly workplaces 

and well past the day before the first day of 

Ordinary Time.

 

-Gary Edward Geraci