A lone, pine-cone

Christmas Day arrives so fast

So unlike any in the past.

Where are the piles of presents, tinsel and tree?

Why is the lounge-room echoing… almost empty?

*

No fragrance of freshly baked treacle, gingerbread

But that’s normal, we usually have coconut cake instead.

So glad there’s no fake mistletoe wreath

For little fingers to pluck rosy berries to eat!

*

No mountain of gifts in all shapes, shades and sizes

Our main gift defies wrapping… there'll be few surprises.

It's the house we moved into on Christmas Eve...

more than enough to cheer and to please!

*

Our possessions remain tightly packed away in boxes

we’re exhausted from cleaning, but happy… one of life’s paradoxes.

Our nod to Christmas is a decorated pinecone

perched atop an empty box... all alone.

*

The restless cat curls up alongside…

becomes the Star of the show, finding no place to hide.

Fun and frivolity unexpectedly break out

when rolls of replacement fly screen are seized for a joust!

*

Memories of that strange Christmas Day

still linger like a sweet aroma today.

How blessed to have a cosy home out of the weather

but better yet, to be living as a family close together.

*

Written for Vocal's Holiday Reflections in Verse Challenge & Poppy’s final Prompts… see below.