Nutcracker’s Lament

Here I am, a sentinel of wood and paint,
my joints, stiffened by time, creak like old doors.
My painted smile is fixed, yet hollow,
beneath the weight of unfulfilled wishes.

Once, I was a soldier, brave and bold,
a guardian of sugar-spun realms,
where candy canes grew like trees
and laughter rang like crystal bells.

The distant clock strikes, its chimes echo of battles I fought.
I also remember the twirl of silk tutus,
the sweet scent of candied dreams,
and the tender longing for a dance that will never be. 

I imagine them twirling, the sugar plum fairies,
their feet light as snowflakes,
spinning through the air,
while I can only dream of pirouettes.

Now, I am a relic, my wooden heart splintered.Oh, how I long for the moment
when I am again more than wood,
when I can leap and twirl
amongst the sugar plum fairies.

Looking for more holiday magic? Find the beauty in poetry, fiction, essays, and readings right here.

• On Patrol – Christmas Poetry
• Missing Everything – Emotive Christmas Fiction
• What’s the Rest of the Story? – Christmas Poetry
• Claus, the Legend of the Fat Man – Book Review
• Grandma Smelled of Cinnamon – Christmas Poetry
• A Gift for Sandy – Creative Christmas Nonfiction
• Mum’s Christmas Pudding – Christmas Poetry
• The Twelve Suspects of Christmas – a Book Review

Sara Etgen-Baker

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After a 25-year teaching career, Sara Etgen-Baker began writing. She’s written a collection of memoir vignettes (Shoebox Stories), a collection of poems (Kaleidoscopic Verses), and a novel (Secrets at Dillehay Crossing). Her writing has appeared in a variety of publications including Guideposts and Chicken Soup for the Soul.

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