10 REASONS TO SPEND THE HOLIDAYS WITH SYLVIA PLATH

10 REASONS TO SPEND THE HOLIDAYS WITH SYLVIA PLATH by Stephen Russell


reason number 10:

admit it.
we’re as greedy as children.
we take, take & take.
soon there’ll be nothing left.
we’ll take it.


reason number 9:

same journey, Sylvia.
intolerable winter weather-
infants more demanding than God-
& death, a tacky souvenir.
Atrocity of birthdays.


reason number 8:

revenge is sweet,
sweeter still is guilt.
we’re at Danny’s bar & grill
in Devonshire, England.
we’re finishing up our pints.
aren’t all bartender’s fascist?
tip him.
we tip well.


reason number 7:

because it’s the 50s
and we’re not hip to manic d
we’ll stay inside.
read dull books.
feed the birds of gossip.


reason number 6:

feeling better?
i am.
shouldn’t we take Ariel for a romp?
man, beast & muse:
the natural order,
things falling into place.


reason number 5:

& we’ll decorate those winter trees.
no. we’ll chop them down.
it’s cold & we’re out of wood.


reason number 4:

or go a little crazy.
what I mean is we’re so uptight.
our holiday refinements,
despair dressed as a villanelle.
shun Robert Lowell.
i mean it, Sylvia.
shun him.


reason number 3:

Goddammit,
i hate the holidays.
New Years, Christmas,
November Pilgrim’s day of thanks.
December, a filthy blur of lights.
& look at bloated Santa,
a 90s thing.

reason number2:

temperature dropping.
don’t believe me?
go outside.


Reason number 1:

we’re as greedy as children,
no better than most adults.