Sinterklaas

Sinterklass in the Netherlands
Tonight, Sinterklaasvond
Stick a carrot in a shoe and leave it by the back door
The white bearded wonder has a universal skeleton key
Replacing the vegetable with presents and candy
He carries a tall staff
Aided by black faces
Dark from race or soot
Gifts in burlap bags
Brought to America
To suffer shame and greed and cartoons
Lost to movies and shopping malls
Flailing on rooftops with Norelco shavers
And lies told to children so they will behave
Milk and cookies
Gift receipts to aid in returns

© Poem Fix http://www.poemfix.com 2012

Founding Fathers

A wise friend once told me
That our founding fathers
Were criminals
Of the worst kind
That they betrayed their homeland
Defined the word treason
And if they had not been successful
England would be a bigger country
And mock the names of Adams and Jefferson
But not this year
Because July 4th was on a Wednesday
Depriving us of our regular revelry
Of beer-soaked weekend barbecues
Flags normally hoisted remained tucked away
Parades were Saturday out of convenience
Still, fireworks flew
Detonating in watercolor streaks
We considered the turncoats
And wondered what they would think of us
What we believe in
How we treat each other
Our loves and lies and divisions
And the criminals we have become

© Poem Fix http;//www.poemfix.com 2012