The Gathering

What are these things that

Christmas cannot bring?

that tug and pull... and the soul unstring?

like some cold mystery 

upon the solstice hung

what have we not forgot

while taking stock of the evening... meals and item giving

how much misunderstanding

did we package at the root of the tree

so many memories missing

among the glitter and the ribbon... these too are gifts in sweet surfeit

a sorrow gently reminding us

of what lays upon the morrow 

the freeze and sudden thaw

the final return of flock... at Mother Nature's call

#PastAndFutureTense