Recycling The Christmas Trees

Every year,
the first glimpse
startles. Coming home from work long after dark
headlights catch the odd humped edges
sitting in the snow banks along my quiet street.
The glitter surprises in a place
that’s been tinsel-free since last January,
then the dark, unfamiliar bulk
repeats house by house as out of place
as if we’d all agreed to
put out our
elephants and told them
to nap by the
curb.