Beneath the Jaded Sky

A poem about the Holidays.

The alleys reek of rum and pine trees,
neon bar signs croon a
twisted Christmas Carol,
people grin, dragging bags of
anxiety and presents,
slamming doors behind them like
a drunk drummer boy.

I sit at the bar, empty glass, empty heart,
watching snow waltz across the
lonely sidewalk.
A twisted Santa staggers past,
bells jangling
like he’s calling the reindeer
home, lost and late.

Somewhere, a child's joy is ecstatic.
Somewhere, a man cries, eggnog-smeared,
remembering the wife.
The stars bring both together,
a tender lullaby across cities and towns,
beneath the jaded sky.

I bum a drink and raise my glass,
to broken hearts and bent spirits,
to busted ornaments and the nativity scene,
missing two wise men sitting on
the old record player,
to beauty beneath the grimy snow.
Well, it’s the season�"
love and sorrow tied up in a
red bow for the night.

Author's Note

I just posted a new long-form reading on my YouTube channel — the first half of my short story Whoops! along with two poems, There Was a Time Without the Internet and Under My Bed.
If you’d like to hear the pieces read aloud, here’s the link:

👉 YouTube Reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq0UTaJahjg

All my books are available on Amazon.
Thanks for reading and for all your support.

— Thomas W. Case

Reviews

[Michael Sun Bear]

To my sorrow, life gave me no children, maybe it’s for the best. I can hear myself saying to a child: “Kid, it’s time you know, there ain’t no Santa Claus, but there’s Thomas Case.” Handing him/her a collection of your poems, saying: “Merry Christmas, this is all you’re gettin’ this year. Enjoy!” I snicker and raise my glass of vodka to my lips.

[Thomas W Case]

Lol. That's good stuff. Stay strong, my friend.

[red93]

Happy Christmas Thomas. So bittersweet this time of year. Exceptional ✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[Thomas W Case]

Thank you, my friend.