Blackened Friday

The year’s end is growing

nearer than near,

as the retailers succumb

to their one greatest fear:

What will happen

if, dreadest of dread,

our columns of numbers

end the year in bright red?

If projections we made

for how business will grow

turn out to be bogus,

where will we go?

If the limits on spending

hold out through and through,

how can we continue?

What will we do?

The craftiest marketers

have developed a game;

it’s quite unimaginative:

More of the Same.

More stuff in the aisles,

more ads on the air,

more hours to open,

frenzy everywhere!

Open the stores

earlier than early;

create mob mentality,

customers quite surly.

Forget about families,

make employees show up.

Turn a profit with volume,

while the turkey throws up.

Hijacking Thanksgiving;

on the profits we’re betting.

We’ll rename the holiday:

Have a prosperous Thanksgetting!

Remember “Good Friday”

preceding resurrection?

This one’s the opposite:

Blackened Shopping Insurrection.

What can we do?

What’s our reaction?

What gift does love bring  

in our speech and action?

How ‘bout we let grace

flow wild and free

onto retail employees

we know and see,

making tangible acts

of thanks and giving

to brighten their day,

with our words and our living?

If you go out on Friday,

make your purpose clear:

you’re there not to buy,

but to spread peace and cheer.

And if you stay home

with family and friends,

find a retail employee,

and give hope to their kin.

© 2015 Todd Jenkins