What We Don’t Put Away by Nicole Shepherd | One Poem Only
One Poem Only is a daily poetry podcast offering a quiet moment with a single poem—read aloud, without analysis or noise.
What We Don’t Put Away
Nicole Shepherd
It’s mid-April,
and the Christmas tree is still up.
I’ve stopped turning the lights on.
The crinkled plastic branches
block the window unit I’ll need next month.
When I dragged the box out in November,
the lights warmed the icy air—
made me believe
in peace on earth,
goodwill to men.
But now I’m tired.
The faux limbs droop with evergreen shame.
I can do the dishes
or put it away—
not both.
Typical.
A bowl full of jelly turned shame…
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