The Burden (Poem)

Your eyes sparkled
And I watched
For reactions
Between and back and forth

As your giddy hands
Presented her
With the crystal vase
Stuffed with Godiva chocolates
Tied up
In cellophane and pretty scarlet-colored ribbons

And “Oh, after I eat all these
Yummy chocolates,
I can put the gorgeous vase
On my mantle”
Wide lipsticked smile – Wide lipsticked smile
Laughter – Laughter
More smiles

Right next to all the other
High-priced fakery
I assume.

When you turned for my gift
Your eyes went sparkle-less
And yes, I am not the excitable type-
Plain paper removed
My obvious thrift store purchase
Feeling like
A burden
That I don’t know what to do with

I weakly smile
As fake as the high-priced fakery
On the mantle
And squeak out a thank you

Not excitable
And not exactly stupid either.

And we all turn
To get on with our happy lives.

© Expressions by Christine 10/22/10