Jingle bells
sleigh bells
twinkling lights
and parties
of impossible expectations
and forced merriment
feasts which fill
empty hearts
longing for what we don’t have
while pretending that we do
and true gratitude
with a bit of guilt
for all that is ours
followed
by the clink of glasses
and a toast
of fond farewells
and wishes
which ache within us
as longing
carries us into the next
days
and drives
and chicken dinners
and joy
and fear
and work
and doubt
and effort
and cheer
and tears
which bring us back to
jingle bells
forced merriment…i skip those parties.
gratitude …yes, much; guilt…nope…i share much.
IF we are fortunate we will hear the bells again.