Christmas Memories

Christmas Memories

Baba’s homemade cookies,
old Macedonian recipes,
arriving in the mail ~
some crumbled and broken,
still melting in my mouth
deliciously different;

Mysterious packages
hidden among my mother’s shoes ~
peeking warded off by
black and white Spectator pumps
guarding silently,
sentinels of surprise;

My Dad’s monsters,
perfectly painted models,
stand under the tree ~
our Three Wise Men,
Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Wolfman
protect my tiny Red Dress Girl;

Jimmy and Philip shouting,
my sister counting gifts,
our four stockings bulge ~
Mommy made each one
exactly the same,
yet always we know our own;

First, Gene Autry sings “Rudolph,”
then Jerry Vale’s soaring voice,
as wrapping paper scatters ~
“Blue Christmas” from Elvis,
we muse over our treasures,
happy children, basking in Love.

© ACG
11 December 2006
for my parents