Not the Same

Like many people I get reflective and sometimes feel overwhelmed during December. Usually I write something long and laborious about religion, commercialization of holidays, being alone, and other negative stuff. This time I decided to be less negative and write about how it feels celebrating holidays when you miss someone.

Christmas Cheer

I think this is becoming my annual tradition, writing about the Merry Christmas barrage I face each December.

Christmas Cheer

Merry Christmas if that's your holiday.

I don't presume to know

what holidays you celebrate,

if you care about religion.

Not everyone celebrates Christmas

Not everyone is Christian, Catholic, 

Protestant, Methodist, Baptist.

Not everyone worships Jesus as their savior.

Celebrate your holidays,

say your prayers and blessings,

read from your holy scripture

if that's what you want to do.

Go down on your knees,

Stand up, sit down.

Cross yourself,

Bow your head,

Cover your head,

Chant, sing, murmur,

Silently pray.

Maybe even try to follow 

  the commandments

  you have been given.

Cards and cheer

  smother us

  for one month of the year.

It's hard to escape the season,

  no matter what you believe in.

You're told Merry Christmas,

  a generic saying.

And asked if you're ready.

  a rhetorical question.

  

Whistling Vivaldi

 

I wrote this the night before heading home from a recent trip.

Whistling Vivaldi,

  a phrase I heard

  while waiting for

  your footsteps 

  to come to

  the door.

It's almost time to say goodbye

  again.

Lying in bed,

  shoulder to shoulder,

  I listen to you

  breathe.

I'll miss your nighttime warmth,

  the tug to reclaim the blanket,

  the knowing that someone

  I love

  is so close.

It's almost time

  to say goodbye

  again.

Trains and planes will

  put miles between

  our voices on the phone,

  our lives.

Yet, somehow our hearts

  always remain close 

  enough

  that I swear

  I can 

  feel yours

  beating

  wherever 

  we both 

  are.