Member-only story
monkeys skitter across the roof
parrots squawk in the trees
fruit flies buzz around the plums
throw the remnants for the birds
wake early to read the Christmas story
traffic accident on the highway interrupts
apple crisp in the oven
one girl sleeping
one girl cooking
rain off and on
gifts unopened
covid comes in calamity
changes with no warning
altered plans
peace is pieces,
pockets of pleasant
not long stretches
we connect, present
with what connects us
we stretch toward those who will have us
in the season of fear and contamination
we pick friends carefully
hold lovers, hold love
keep all others 6 feet apart
Christmas cannot come apart
from fear
uncertainty
dark nights
painful births
mystical annunciations
