To the House with the Christmas Light Display

Peyton Harrill

It’s that time of year. The long slog of winter enters its final month. All the vitamin D supplements in the world cannot shake my sadness. Even the trees look sad— their emaciated branches are like an army of skeletons against the backdrop of the sooty sky. Overhead and underfoot, the world is in grayscale. Apollo turned down the saturation and is still sleeping. But up on a hill lies a house that lights up nightly in technicolor splendor. All shades of reds, yellows, and greens illuminate the twilight like rainbow sprinkles on a white buttercream-frosted cake. Thousands of lights outline the house like a jewel-encrusted chest. Strobing projections flash scenes of falling snowflakes, as a giant inflatable Santa Claus sways in the wind, offering presents with a friendly wave. The joys of Christmas are well past their prime. The mystery of why the light display still glows has left me perplexed. To the house with its Christmas light display still up in March, is everything okay? Have your owners deserted you? Perhaps, they are just seasonally affected like me and the lights bring them joy. You have become a nightly light box to awaken my mind like sunbeams piercing through the darkness before dawn. Can you keep the lights up a little bit longer until Apollo awakens? They are perfect for this time of year.

I’ve been thinking lately contemplating what’s the meaning behind the stars?

When the astronauts go up what do they really find?

Is there a better place than here on earth where the kids get addicted and the minds get twisted is there a place to roam with no responsibilities like we have back home?

A tundra garden icy flowers

A melted river full of tall brick towers somewhere else to go for some peace of mind or hope

I don’t wanna grow up my imagination is about to erupt

I don’t want these adult tasks they’re a bore to me

I don’t wanna grow up too fast slow down we’ve got time let’s make it last there’s no rush no rush

I’ve been thinking lately contemplating what’s the point of really caring all these people you see everyday they’re gonna go away someday real soon

So just do what you want don’t worry what they think I’m like a faucet running running in the basement sink

I wanna flow I wanna grow I wanna go somewhere new

I wanna take myself out to dinner see what I have to say I should listen to her more often than I do today

I don’t wanna grow up my imagination is about to erupt

I don’t want these adult tasks they’re a bore to me

I don’t wanna grow up too fast slow down we’ve got time let’s make it last there’s no rush no rush.