Sweet Illusions of Happiness

Sweet Illusions of Happiness
© Surazeus
2024 12 20

Relaxed in the rocking chair by stone hearth, 
dressed warmly in wool sweater and tweed coat, 
Professor Randall Simnette sips hot chocolate 
and contemplates snow falling on oak trees. 
"All the cheerful joys of this holiday 
are but sweet illusions of happiness." 

"Though I remember with fondness of faith 
bright cheerful glow of life inside the home 
warmed by crackling fire of togetherness, 
those hours of cheer, eating delicious cake, 
were designed to insulate our frail lives 
from bitter coldness of the world outside." 

His eyes, green isles surrounded by blue lakes, 
gaze out the frosted window at the lawn 
where children, bundled warm in coats and gloves, 
build snow people of various characters 
seen in movies and real society, 
then post photos on social media sites. 

"How innocent they are this playful hour, 
naive to dangers of the ugly world, 
sheltered by their parents from bloody horror 
of wars empires wage to control rich lands 
by killing loving families just like theirs, 
shielded by faith in our Heavenly Father." 

When his wife, in dress embroidered with flowers, 
brings him plate with slice of angel food cake, 
he smiles with gratitude, then beams with pleasure 
after one big bite, so she pats his shoulder 
as he hums Hark the Herald Angels Sing 
with the charmed singer on the radio. 

"These rites of togetherness we perform 
to assuage our loneliness in cold winters, 
are sweet illusions of happiness we share 
to help us survive long cold bitter nights 
while waiting for the Sun to be reborn 
and resurrect life on Earth with his Light." 

When gang of homeless men from somewhere else 
approach his door and beg for food to eat, 
he contemplates what King Jesus would do, 
so he aims his rifle at hatless heads 
and demands they leave his property now, 
so they turn and run down the signless road. 

"These heart-warming holidays of true faith 
we spend together when the world has died 
are our sweet illusions of happiness 
in safe havens we build with bleeding hands, 
standing guard over walls of paradise 
to keep our families safe from gangs of thieves."