return
Put Christmas away slowly.
December dark and deep with verdant hues of gold and ruby,
Laughter mingles with the scents of baked ham or turkey in warm houses where
candles burn in windows, and carols drift over snow-covered, glowing branches.
The new year stretches out before us in stark, dark, frozen silence.
It hints at promise,
like the half spent candle floats
and flickers faintly in a clear glass bowl of water.
Once again we deal with the basic survival set, do
battle with the elements.
Yes, put Christmas away slowly.
As the days grow longer, gently fold
the last Christmas card away with its newsletter
into a torn envelope,
and lay it on the heap of Christmases past.
Jeanne Winstead