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 mascot.

Even the Easter Bunny won’t stop by.

I’m tired of marking time

by what I haven’t done.

I want to carry the tree to storage,

a singular pallbearer,

before I need one.

Let me mark time by what I manage—

even if it’s small.

Even if it’s late.

Even if it’s just this.

More from Nicole Shepherd ↓

• @tenderpunkconfessional on Instagram
• @tenderpunkconfessional on Substack

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Poetry slows us down. Thank you for listening.