the food
enough
to stuff everyone
plates
piled
every conceivable
dish
and delicious
they were
leaving
stomachs
over filled
overly content
thinking
1
should not eat
again

the news
turned on
to find
a line
a mass
of madmen & women too
waiting through the dark
for bargains
of items wanted
to be claimed
in a fervid storm
of lunatic shoppers

again
the news
which teams won
and sad tales of those who
lost
a season
of gladiators
charging the field
and the crowds
yelling screaming
a few cheers
hardly heard
happy faces
and
equally sad
the games play on
allegiances change

again
the news
politicians
talking
squawking
&
bawking
nothing
changing
slight rearranging
views
no-one’s right
everyone’s wrong
the same song
sung off key
confessions
too confusing

again
the news
the stories told
of faceless
whom
needs are many
living day to day
fending
off starvation
fending
off the cold
begging
for help
pleading
for understanding
on
all
street corners

turn off
the news
look around the room
count
and tally
your happiness
thanking
those here
and those there
this season
and every next

and in that second
find a way
to spread
a piece
of joy
to
an unsuspecting soul

count your happiness