"Holiday Homecoming"

One of the most wonderful things about the Christmas season is getting together with family and friends. There are assorted nut breads in my freezer and tins, tins, and more tins of homemade cookies ready and waiting for the doorbell to start ringing.

'Tis the season to be hospitable...

                                                  

HOLIDAY HOMECOMING

She smiled as she dusted

the ceramic crèche

on the old oak credenza,

sang as she swept the kitchen floor,

even Lysoled the bathroom bowl

with effervescence.

Humming a Yuletide carol, the woman

rolled pastry into a thin rectangle

and cut cookies into shapes

of stars and angels and lambs.

Spontaneous praise proceeded from her lips

as she stuffed the twenty pound turkey,

trussed it tidily,

rubbed it with butter and sage

and lifted it into the moderate oven.

She dressed the table with china and silver,

the slightly yellowed table linen

stored in her mother’s cedar chest,

and a silvery bowl of pink poinsettias

bought at the flower sale at church.

Her feet ached, but her eyes sparkled.

This was among life’s highest joys:

Her adult children would soon be at the door

bringing presents, hugs and laughter

and she would get to serve them Christmas dinner.

Maude Carolan