even though it’s august
and even though my sort-of-roommate is jewish
and even though i don’t think i like christmas—
a fact i think i forgot to mention
there wasn’t much room to speak between the
layers of harmony in here comes santa claus
and the requisite laughter at arnold schwarzenegger
chased by his neighbor’s reindeer in jingle all the way
it’s easier to take the tree leave it in the laundry room corner
and when dad asks about it later pretend that i lost track
as i wandered in the uncertain maw that yawned between
the summer and the holiday season

MP Armstrong is a disabled queer writer from Ohio, studying English and history at Kent State University. Their work appears or is forthcoming in Perhappened, Prismatica Magazine, and Dreams Walking, among others. They also serve as managing editor and reporter for Curtain Call and Fusion magazines. In their spare time, they enjoy tea, concerts, and blazers. Find them online @mpawrites and at http://mpawrites.wixsite.com/website.