Christmas Eve in the 1990s
“Nine Lessons and Carols” would be on NPR,
I’d be polishing silver, you’d be in the yard
clipping holly for a centerpiece, my father
following you around. My mother
would be ironing the dark green linen
tablecloth, the lace-trimmed napkins.
My sister and her family would arrive as usual—
dinner for 12, no need for miracles.
Later, after assembling whatever piece
of sports equipment our young athlete
had begged us for all year, you and I
would light the tree and sit there for a while,
counting up how many holidays we’d spent
in this same company, which seemed so permanent
that change was unimaginable.
That, I realize now, was the miracle.
– Sue Ellen Thompson
Sue Ellen Thompson is the author of five books of poetry, including They (2014), The Wedding Boat (1995), and This Body of Silk (1986). Her two other books, The Leaving: New & Selected Poems (2001) and The Golden Hour (2005), were nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. Her latest book, Sea Nettles: New & Selected Poems has just been published. Thompson has received numerous awards and honors, including the Samuel French Morse Prize, the Pablo Neruda Prize, the Maryland Author Award, and two Artist Fellowships from the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism.
John Fischer says
Oh. This is good, will cause knots to grow in many throats.
Suzanne Todd says
My parents would arrive Christmas Eve to spend the night. They lived nearby, so we saw them often, but Christmas with their three granddaughters was a wonder. I, too appreciated it and thought “how many more years like this?” Now it’s our turn to be the grandparents, and what a wonder. What a joy.
Dick Deerin says
Perfect for this Christmas. Thank you.
susan e delean-botkin says
beautiful.
Thank you, Sue Ellen
Frani Gouvin says
Lovely, Susie. Soothing to hear your voice. Startling to hear it end. Yes, the miracle of the moment.
Catherine Gouvin says
Thank you for this Christmas gift, Sue Ellen.🎄❤️
Christine Boudrie says
How lovely to remember how it used to be. Not the same today with family so scattered it is impossible to all be together. Thank you, Sue Ellen, for the reminder.