Christmas Crime

Packaged happiness
Being promoted and sold everywhere.
Radio jingles, television and internet advertisements
Trees and houses already decked, decorated
Almost a month ahead.
On the Main, ladies and gents walking by
Lovely smiles, holding each other by the arm, by the hands.
Holding packages, boxes, all wrapped in
Colorful papers by the Elves at the mall.
Rounding the corner and walking by the parc,
Another sort of reality
As a young couple was in their own world,
A world of syringes, pipes and crack.
He saw but he did not see.
His world was of joy, colorful ribbons.
Nutcrackers and delicacies
Provided by a family of which he was part
But to which he knew he did not belong.
The pressure to succeed
The pressure he could no longer take
A pressure which gave him constant headhaches.
It is as he passed in front
Of the ''Choc-O-La !'' factory and saw
The huge box of  belgian chocolates
That he decided to go in and purchase it.
The light weight of the gift-wrapped box
Felt  quite different from that
Of the cold steel of the gun in his left pocket.
As he resumed his walk along this grand avenue
He saw the usual Salvation Army person
Ringing the bell and seeking donations.
He  walked by an old lady sitting on a blanket
On the sidewalk by the toy store,
Gave her the box of chocolate...
''Merry Christmas'' he said,
Took the gun out of his pocket
And put  a bullet through his head.