‘Alone at this time’…
Unleashes the weight
Of culture
Conditioning
Tradition
Expectation
Guilt
Discomfort
Within and
Around me
There seems to be
A need to explain
Justify
Reassure
Soothe
Myself

There’s the reality
Of family
Not around
I should have been there
But I’m not

There’s the reality of friends
Embedded in theirs –

“You’re welcome to join mine”
Holds no appeal
This year

There’s my reality of Christmas as
‘The dawning of new light’,
In the middle of Summer
Deeply
Not making any sense

There’s another reality
Of just another day
In the blazing glory
Of ‘The Christ
As the universe’

Just another day
In the blazing glory
Of being human
Intricately
Interconnected
With everything

If only
I can see it
Remember it
From moment
To moment