Nimrod, Tammuz & ‘Nem

A So-Called Christmas Poem

Nimrod by David Scott, 1832 (Wikipedia)

“Merry Christmas!”

I done heard that line before everywhere I go,

I heard about smoochin’ under the mistletoe,

All this red & green pollutin’ my eyes

Not surprised

Folk scramblin’ to put gifts under the tree

Ain’t knowin’ Semiramis made the decree

When she had everybody and their momma deck out the pine in glittery gold

Gifts untold, on a day so cold

Gifts from the poor and rich

‘Cause Semiramis was a triflin’ ass bitch

Married her baby and gave him a son-brother

Deified him like no other

Folk out there cussin’ The Almighty Creator in a huff

Puttin’ up under a golden tree all this stuff

Folk did it back then and still doin’ it now

Got me wondering what, why and how

Even as I write this poem in 2023

People go broke puttin’ stuff under a decked-out tree

They say they’re doing it for the kids, while an admirable thing

Putting smiles on their faces with the joy their parents bring

It hurts my heart to see the masses

Giving consumerism all these passes

It hurts even more because I was one of ‘em back in the day

Looking forward to games and toys in that very same way

‘Til somebody put me on game about December 25th one time,

And that was all it took to change my mind,

And much as I would like to get the message out,

Folk gon’ say I’m over here chasin’ clout

About their beloved Christmas holiday

Thinkin’ I’m out here tryna take their joy away

Callin’ me Scrooge, Grinch ‘n shit

Because it’s a holiday I can’t get with

Guess I’ma just hold my tongue and mind my business

With look on my face that reads, “What is this?”

Folk tearin’ their wallets limb from limb,

Just to celebrate Nimrod, Tammuz ‘nem.

©2023 Ms. KJ