I'll be home soon
I promise
Christmas come quickly

ringing bells
choirs yell
Hallelujah

surrounded by darkness
one voice
provides the light

skinny mall Santa
looks like St. Nick
has been laying off the cookies

Christmas morning
a full moon
peeps in

open attic door
leaks cold winter air
unpacking Christmas

decking the big blue halls
in red and green
ah,    there you are Millikin

break of dawn
no footprints found
on Christmas snow

cookie party
putting her iPhone away
to load a plate

three cookies on a plate
one bite taken
Santa was here

behind another door
lies another chocolate
advent calendar

Christmas morning
the late sleeper
becomes an early bird

listening for the reindeer,
I fall asleep under the tree
next to the wise men

night so silent
you can hear
the snow fall

around the tree
turning on the lights
for the first time

wiping snow off boots
stepping into a warm hug
at grandma's house

my cat knocks
over the Christmas tree
again.

Christmas eve
the children pretend to sleep
spying on Santa

twinkling bells
then—
snow

opening her mouth
trying to catch
every snowflake

making the bed
the way mother does
almost Christmas

tiny dorm room
decorated with
a tiny Christmas tree

the season of giving:
leaving a present
for Santa, too

snowfall
we throw snowballs
on the way to class

too cold to leave the house
her dogs watch the movie
with us

Merry Christmas
smiling so wide
her eyes begin to close

sleigh bells ringing
hooves marking the path
through the snow

perfect glass ornament
my reflection
distorted

Winter green pine
tree frosted with snow
Peace on Earth

bar at Christmas
dark and warm
jazz band

distant sound of cars
a single tree leans
on the fence

hanging ornaments
just high enough
the dog can't reach anymore