Damn You, Norman Rockwell
1960 Christmas
Christmas tree in the corner
Presents scattered below
Extended family around the table
Grandma brings in the turkey
Everyone looks on in amazement
Laughing, pleasant conversation
And afterwards, gifts gleefully opened
Wrapping paper flying …
2012 Christmas
A homeless oldest son and daughter-in-law
Living on the streets
Granddaughter being raised by someone else
Husband, wife and youngest son
Helping serve dinner for the poor
And tried not to notice their own pervasive sadness
What did we do wrong?
I want a Norman Rockwell Christmas.
This one hurts my heart.