31st by Chris Major

Every year's arse
end we try to
fight the darkness:
colour and tinsel,
sparkle and glitter,
the parties which explode
with noise and cheer
sending people 'over the top'
to fight for fun and meaning.
Charity appeals:
children,
animals,
the homeless;
the brief crusade
that never lasts,
the coming year,
approaching darkness-
streets lined with
the tracer fire of fairy lights......


Chris Major, UK