Holiday Chaos

“Billy, Susie, Carolyn, you all come in from the cold.”

As six stomping feet shake leaves and dirt from boots.

And see what they have been smelling through closed windows.

Creating chaos regardless of the drill-sergeant’s commands.

At the table, sounds of glasses clinking and forks chunking

And 10 simultaneous conversations from five different people

Creates more chaos than that experienced during preparations.

But at least everyone is laughing – at least on the outside.

After the pies, and the dishes and the football games

The three leave to their schools or their jobs and friends.

And what seemed like children when entering, are now adults.

How did they grow up so fast that now we’re alone in our own chaos?

David Kimball