Because Nov. 23 until Dec. 22, is really Fall, I am referring to this as Un-Winter Cup |
Family All of us have traveled back Back to the place where it all began Back where the strength of family Reminds us We are not alone in this world. Traveling the highways The side streets The graveled ruts We make our way From as far as Thessalon and Guelph Back to a tiny farm house Cut out of the Northern Ontario forest To sit on cleared land That now rests deep under A blanket of fresh, powdered snow Inside the warmth of wood stove Pulls you in and welcomes you As much as the smiles And hugs of my grandmother and her jolly smile. My grandfather puffs his pipe And grins a welcome As he shakes hands with the adults And is claimed by the unfettered hugs Of his grandchildren. Even Grandma Grandma sits up From her nap and accepts the kisses To her wizened old cheeks. Her eyes shimmer with pleasure Knowing she has not been forgotten. The scent of roasting turkey fills the air And the table is pilled with fresh baked goods Bread and biscuits still warm from the oven And cookies piled to overflowing on plates. The meal is made while the children play Dressed in snowsuits Bundled in layers under mittens and scarves Snow clings to the children as they dance Among the trees and frolic along the paths They carve out of the hillside. When dinner is almost ready They are called in and washed up Then we pile into the front room Made warm by the extra bodies And the delight of the season. We fill the room and squeeze ourselves Around the dinning table that is covered with every wonderful morsel. The youngest skips along To wake Grandma Grandma To tell her it is time The feasting has begun. Once over that same child slips below And listens to the adults murmuring As the meal goes on She taps toes and kisses the feet of her Grandmother Who smiles down at her Her eyes sparkle with love. When all the meal is done and cleared away The fiddle and guitar come out And songs fill the air. The children dance within the circle The adults clap Their merry smiles ablaze Within the small abode. Lines = 65. Day 24 ▼ ** Image ID #1855238 Unavailable ** |