Wandering this week meant wandering down aisle after aisle trying to find the perfect gift for the names on my list. Bet you were too! My writing fell by the wayside but I want to share a poem (I am not a poet but all writers take a stab at the terse word form every now and again) that I wrote a couple of years ago. I thought about mothers who did not have all their family with them at this special time of the year.
Listening
Festive Christmas cheer
Reflects the sparkle of the tree
Friends and family gather here
Where everyone should be.
She listens.
She sits apart, the matriarch
Smiling, nodding, watching,
But her eyes hold no spark
Body straight, fingers clutching
She listens.
Gifts, drinks and food
Offered with warm embrace
To glean a smile she’s constantly wooed.
But her eyes remain distant; still her face.
She listens.
Knowing glances sweep the room
Aware of one so far away
One of her heart, one of her own,
Missing on this Christmas day.
She listens.
The gifts are dealt, the twilight grays
The table cleared, laughter settles.
Happiness throughout the day
Defies her lonely vigil.
She listens.
A distant bell, voices heard
“Merry Christmas from us all,
No, no right here. She’s in her chair.”
All day to get this call,
She listened.
May you have all your loved ones close to hand and share a wonderful festive season.
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