December 24th

my holiday greeting, as 'twere

Photo by Eliza Shibanova on Unsplash

Permit me to compose some words of praise
for Christmastime (surely, its own season):
a festal pause amid the hubbub, welcomed
rest amid the bustle, wholesome cheer.

Drive down to Heather's house by back roads:
Arthur's confident caution at the wheel;
Debba's wacky chatter as the soundtrack;
my zeal to be where trees are numberless.

(World news: Pope Leo asks for a day of peace.
A patch of love, of soft unsullied snow
amid the treason and traffic of the world.)

We gather to have dinner, open gifts.
Kestrel cracks a joke; it's odd, but we smile,
and every ice-tinselled pine lets loose a laugh.