Winter Poem (The Other Side of the Tracks)

The Other Side of the Tracks

"Don't be too expectant. Christmas isn't all about the gifts."

Mama's bottom lip trembles as she thinks about the year's financial shifts

No one appreciates the true sentimentality of Christmas anymore

People run to the tree and expect to see below it gifts galore

Christmas is supposed to be about Joy, laughter, and unity

But money had taken away the closeness of not only family but the entire community

I look around the house, and every potential for happiness had been drained

No longer did stockings hang, and day by day begin to fill, making the hooks strained

small tree stood in the corner, no lights or onaments to be found

Whereas just a year ago, the little tree would be covered in decorations profound

No beautiful sounds of Christmas music was to be heard or played

It was as if our financial change had caused our joy to have fallen in and decayed

I was now at a place I'd always been told of-The other side of the tracks

"Show your appreciation for what you have by giving back"

Those words finally rang strong and true in my ear

And despite my appearing strong and nonchalant, I felt run down my face a hot tear

Everything I'd always said would never happened to me was coming true

Then suddenly, something inside me awakened and finally I immediately knew

That being on the other side of the tracks wasn't necessarily a negative thing

Because these families were wealthy, despite their financial stings

I now see the beautiful moral behind this horrible catastrophe

Our family was witnessing before its eyes our own Commercial Christmas atrophy

Following this current "storm", the sun would return in a full new way

And the sentiments and love acquired could never be taken away

No matter how much monetary wealth our family lacks

We were spiritually much stronger now that we had been put on the other side of the tracks