• Heat arising
    In the fire, crackling.
    Snow banging,
    against the front door.
    No carols being sung,
    but stockings being hung
    No sugarplums dancing
    and no rats fighting.
    The peacefulness is too still
    only thoughts swim and no words spoken.
    In hopes that their father will awoken.
    It's been a year,
    their eyes never clear
    at the thought of him, being away.
    The mother hugs the children
    and starts to pray.
    That her husband will come home with no delay.
    She looks over at the tree,
    so lonely and empty,
    yet there are presents underneath thee.
    She sends the children up to bed,
    while turning out the lights.
    Until the sound of a phone startles her in surprise.
    She sits there instead
    and begins to cry.
    She will never forget this Christmas Eve,
    no matter how hard she will try.