Tidewater

In
comes tree
(bearing the faint
chill of a Chesapeake December)

Shake loose
its branches and
gather round to mark
the end of another year!

Catching scents
of pine and cinnamon
Annie slowly, tentatively
settles on the green chair to
oversee decorating from a distance

Hot mulled cider tastes
especially good on a night such as this.

Coco clomps
downstairs, bursts into the room
eyes button-round and laughing
then out and on to tomorrow
in a one cat game of tag

Tonight
we’ll gaily hang
the wonders of all our
yesterdays bough upon bough
Later
one by one in
homage to all that is good
tuck gifts of ourselves
at its base wrapped
round with an old quilt

Come! In this special moment
embrace fond remembrance
put aside sorrow, fear, uncertainty
reach out and hold tight to
the promise that is Christmas.