I read by Christmas light tonight
with one leg crossed on another.
The tree outside was large and glowing
with the multicolored affectation of holly-days.
Light, falling through the window, and me
in a ward, to keep safe and sound.
The voices of people laughing, talking
striving for nothing more
then their own grateful exultations
if only once today.
Christmas in the horseshoe was still
days away from today,
but some would still be here,
wandering the halls, and laughing
Gifts of coloring books,
crayons,
glue sticks,
and a book of smiling stickers.
Pain behind eyes, but smiles anyway.
Disheveled hair and unkempt clothes,
but still good cheer
in observation of the season.
But rejoice. Rejoice! and delight!
Crying in triumph in the horseshoe holiday,
To be heard, if only once on
Christmas day.
