It is Christmas Eve again
And the family has gathered 'round
To celebrate another year of life
But this year it is different
The guests are quieter
Gentler with their remarks
Even the decorations are more subtle
The wrapping paper no longer screams
"MERRY CHRISTMAS"
Instead it sits, relaxed, on each gift
Not begging to be torn apart
By the children's eager hands
There's a gleam in each eye
It says "I love you but I can't get any closer"
So everyone sits a good distance apart
At dinner, they ignore the empty chair
And take small mouthfuls
They're afraid to chew too loud
A baby gurgles and cries
Everyone closes their eyes
As the night winds down
The family spreads
Like butter on a slice of rotten bread
Talk persists:
There is small and mindless chatter
A cousin hides away to reminisce
She thinks about death
And how it has stolen all of their spirit
She thinks about her family
And how they couldn't be any more gone
