The Family is Coming!

Day #24 of A-Poem-a-Day Until Christmas:

Photo Credit: justjohanna.com

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