You woke me with the chill
of a 3° sunrise,
its light creeping over the horizon,
a thin brushstroke of warmth,
like the soft crackling of a fire,
its glow wrapping around me.

Gentle strains of music soothe my spirit,
notes drifting through the air,
weaving a tapestry of sound,
while fine food fills my stomach,
each bite
a communion with sacred company,
laughter echoing off the walls.

You lifted me high
with the delight of my granddaughter,
her joy a beacon,
a light in this ever-turning world.
You blessed me with the breathing presence
of my old friend,
his warmth a reminder,
familiar comfort at my feet.

Wonder unfolds
as I glimpse the doe,
graceful,
treading softly through the deep snow,
her tongue dipping into white powder,
seeking refreshment
from a world draped in winter’s hush.

You quickened my pulse
with thoughts of my wife
returning home,
the promise of her smile,
while shadows gather,
reminders of sorrow,
like the story of Everett,
a Christmas tree
standing bare,
a boy killed in war,
echoing loss in the stillness.

I stand wounded,
hearing of the eleven-year-old
searching for quick ways to escape,
loss heavy in the heart,
and then I am moved to tears
by the pink glow of a shy peak,
fifty miles away,
a blush of hope on the canvas of dusk.

This day was hard and good,
woven together,
a fabric of contradiction,
a reminder to cherish the beauty
in this tangled life.