jocelyn vye

There was a trend
In the 90s
Among nuclear white families
Mostly

At the mall
At a Sears
Or JC Penny
Maybe

Painted faces
Chests pinned and pressed in stodgy vests
Matching and sweating
Smooshed cheeks redding
For Christmas
Usually

“Say cheese!”
Family forever
“Got it!”
Framed dysfunction

In this way,
The uncles and the grandmas and neighbors
Knew, as it was on display
Over faux fireplaces:
Bliss lives here.

Maybe it did
Until it went up

At least the flames
Were real.

A copy survived the blaze
I unearthed it from the wreckage
Wheezing neath report cards
In a box of sooty memories
I never kept

I’ll mount it on the mantle this year.
My functioning flue
In the house I’ve raised
From scorched soil

Heavy over the hearth
Where my son toddles weightlessly

Blissful wax white people
Encased with waning smiles.
Forever.
For Christmas.
For Love.
For Melting.

In this way
The in-laws and the sisters and the dogs
Will know:
This dies here.