This
tree
stands –
lights and
ribbons encircling –
like a million other trees.
(remember the popcorn
and cranberry strings? Paper
chains and brightly decorated cookies?)
look! what a cacophony of ornaments!
laughing like stars –
they silently chart our course
across a lifetime.
oh cats, where has the time gone?
‘In the city’ where music danced on the night lights we dashed store to store over snowbanks, between cars through crowds of people across the cobblestone streets trying to avoid puddles of slush – don’t slip! meet. regroup and divide. meet again outside under the Shepard clock closely guarding our Christmas secrets only the constant…
Planning a return to France began in January – a far reach from youth, when ‘the plan’ was nothing (but) a plane ticket, suitcase and love As winter ebbed and Spring came into bloom I deleted items from my list: étudier la langue (at the top) confirm passports, airline tickets technology requirements to stay in…
We rootless, searching whisper prayers of Christmas hopes silently, snow falls and there is Peace Firstborn, checking lights shares the magic of Christmas with his patient easy smile Bear proudly announces “I’ve bought all my presents!” while butterfly daughter, busy ‘making’ knows Santa really does exist Dad seeks refuge in the garage listens to laughter –…
Out of storage comes one love seat two boxes of books three cardboard chests marked ‘fragile’. Five candles, found, can light windows. still needed – a little space for the Christmas tree. Reunited with love seat and a patch of sun Annie and Coco snuggle peacefully. Ah, the wisdom of cats! Merry Christmas!
Against the antique oak rocker in the alcove leans a needlepoint begun decades ago (18th century American primitive re-created in my hand and style with woolen yarns and carefully selected stitches) Cart roads lead from the ‘big’ house, past out buildings and wild vines heavy with grapes (Norton?) – down at the river, a sailing…
Sun’s first rays pick at the blinds teasing them open just a little then its long fingers stretch across the room and tickle my face Outside the world moves in slow motion gulls doze on a diamond sea whose only movement is a ripple as it turns over in its sleep A few birds lazily…