In The Red Suit
written by: Eric Machan Howd
Behind the safety of wadding
and a wise-white beard
children whisper what they want
most of all in the world from me.
Here I hear the differences
between needs and desires
and unlock the uneasy looks
between parent and child.
Knowing what I know of disappointment
I shrink inside as one by one
they are brought to me under twinkling
hope — their last chance
their savior for the year to come.
The next dressed smile
approaches me sheepishly
as I get smaller inside
this chimney garb
and they leave me
either smiling or crying
uncontrollably.
Eric Machan Howd (Ithaca, NY) is a poet, musician, and educator. His work has been seen in publications such as Slant, Caesura, Slab, Stone Canoe, and Nimrod. He has had the honor of representing Santa Claus in his hometown a couple of times where he listened to the wishes of others over the holiday season. His daughter even sat on his lap when younger and told his mother that "Santa Claus sounds just like Daddy!?" to which she replied that "when [she] was younger she thought exactly the same thing."
Latest posts by Eric Machan Howd (see all)
- In The Red Suit - December 19, 2023
