CHRISTMAS 2012

The tree is up

The house decorated

It’s been a lot of Christmases

Since the last time that happened.

You’ve been too sick,

And we’ve been too broke

All those years;

Holiday spirit seemed in very short supply.

Well this year

I decided to do something about it

New beginnings

And all that.

Past time for a change,

And besides,

I thought it would be nice

To give you something to look at,

Though the decorations where you are

Make mine look paltry by comparison.

So the boxes came up from the cellar

All dusty. They stayed

On the porch for the wind

To do its job.

I opened them up

And discovered

That some were in bad shape

Stored in the damp so long.

You would have wheezed yourself hoarse.

I threw a lot out,

But there were enough left

For me to work with.

All that’s left is to ball the tree

I’ll do that tomorrow.

But it’s up, and lit,

And it looks nice:

I think you’d like it.

I don’t anticipate many presents,

But that’s O.K.

The apartment’s full of Christmas spirit,

And so on Christmas eve

I will sit, admiring, remembering

When Christmas was really festive

For us both,

I’ll lift my glass,

And drink a toast,

Thinking of you.

-Chip Bergeron

 December 21, 2012