Family life

My family is very small

eleven of us

three are over 80

three are over 60

three are over 50

two of us are sons

come labor day

the quilts are taken from the clean

white sheets in which they summered

we Sheldon have reason and need no

excuse to polish the good sliver wash

the tall stemmed glasses and invite

one another into our homes

we win at bid whist and lose at canasta

and eat the lightest miniature Parker

house rolls and the world's best five

cheese macaroni and cheese

i grill the meat mommy boils the

beans

come first snow the apple cider wit

nutmeg...cloves...cinnamon... and just

a hint of ginger brews every game day

and night

we have no problem luring Santa

Claus down our chimney

he can't resist the laughter