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So Brief the Moon
by
Judith Heron


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Son, after you have gone — risen early in the dark to leave —
the scent of fried eggs and coffee wafts up the stairs.
I still hear your excited footsteps as you readied
for the ski hill, gathered your gear, turned to say
a last farewell. Me, barefoot, half asleep,
you wide awake, going somewhere good
that is surely called 'the rest of your life'.

Our gifts simple this year — chocolates and nuts,
warm socks, no cards. Both of us, tired of the clatter
in the world, took money to the food bank instead.
Arm in arm on our walk by the sea, we spoke
of the full moon on Christmas day as though
this was miracle enough for each of us.


© by Judith Heron.
Used with the author's permission.

 

 




Photo Credit: Mandy Greyling Holmwood

Judith Heron lives in Victoria on Vancouver Island. She has been published in a number of chapbooks edited by Patrick Lane, and in three anthologies: A Murder of Crones (Ptarmigan Press 2007), The Wild Weathers: a gathering of love poems (Leaf Press 2012), and Poems from Planet Earth (Leaf Press 2013). Though she has always lived on the west coast of Canada, Judith cherishes the homestead traditions of her prairie heritage. She relishes the rituals of becoming an elder, which include permission to visit and work in various gardens and to spend more time "with the birds."

        

 

 

 


Post New Comment:
Ron Stewart:
I love this poem Judith. It's exactly the way we all should celebrate Christmas. We who have so much need to be giving to those who have so little.
Posted 12/28/2023 10:52 AM
Shoshauna Shy:
What Larry said.
Posted 12/26/2023 03:44 PM
judithheron:
For those who ski I must add: my son skis with no poles only when he's bringing our Christmas tree down the mountain! Cheers!
Posted 12/26/2023 02:04 PM
Lori Levy:
Love the appreciation for simplicity expressed in this poem.
Posted 12/26/2023 01:30 PM
Anastasia:
This sounds like a wonderful holiday! Thank you for your poem, Judith!
Posted 12/26/2023 01:08 PM
KevinArnold:
Wise.
Posted 12/26/2023 12:16 PM
NormaB:
So beautiful, this new tradition expressed in your heartfelt poem!
Posted 12/26/2023 09:32 AM
cork:
...the clatter in the world...
Posted 12/26/2023 09:01 AM
Angela Hoffman:
Oh, the simple things!
Posted 12/26/2023 09:00 AM
Darrell Arnold:
Nice Poem. Merry Christmas, Larry
Posted 12/26/2023 08:22 AM
Larry Schug:
A simply wonderful poem. I wish we all acted this way.
Posted 12/26/2023 08:01 AM


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