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For those who honor Pagan traditions or celebrate Christmas, the fir tree is a symbol of love and gathering during a time of year when the cold weather often draws us apart. This week’s writer, poet Izzy O’Donnell of Hinesburg, reflects on the reverence she holds for the soon-to-be beautifully adorned tree that will unite her family together with its joy and light.
Lighting the tree
By Izzy O’Donnell, 13, of Hinesburg
Lights, blinking at me,
weary from their yearlong slumber.
I look up at the dark-green, pine-scented branches
and smile from my position on the floor.
It feels like I could be in a forest
with a sky made of cream, ceiling paint, clouds,
and a small fluorescent sun.
The lights blink again and one burns out,
leaving us behind, never again to see
presents nestled beneath its pine-branch perch.
I unscrew it and put it aside,
sighing when I see all the others that need to retire
from their joy-bringing posts upon our Christmas tree.
I choose another string of lights
and am very pleased to find all in working order.
Soon they will be gently tucked into the greenery
and nestled next to their ornament compadres
among an occasional candy cane,
until they are all wrapped around the tree,
igniting the fire of Christmas and feeding it joy
as the children play in and around it,
laughing and staring,
awed at this fanciful tree.
