Now that Christmas shopping can be ignored—
parents long gone, no grandchildren to shop for—
I find myself looking forward to the holidays,
whose significance resides in the way
we prop the phone up on a pile
of books, click on the self-timer,
and rush back to the sofa to compose
ourselves, thus creating the tableau
that has become our emblem: heads inclined
and touching lightly at the hairline,
my hand having found yours at my waist—
the two of us in the small, warm house of our age.
Sue Ellen Thompson is the author of six books of poetry—most recently SEA NETTLES: NEW & SELECTED POEMS. She has taught at Middlebury College, Binghamton University, Wesleyan University, Central Connecticut State University, and the University of Delaware. A resident of Oxford, MD for the past 18 years, she mentors adult poets and teaches workshops for The Writer’s Center in Bethesda. In 2010, the Maryland Library Association awarded her its prestigious Maryland Author Award.
Maggie andersen says
Love this!
Dick Deerin says
Lovely. Thank you.
Denise Murr says
I have all of Sue Ellen Thompson’s poetry books. I became acquainted with her writing through my neighbor who lent me her first book. I bought that one and then moved on to the others in the last 6 years. I must admit I read poetry throughout school, enjoying some and being totally confused by others. Our house is filled with books. However, I never thought of purchasing books of poetry.
Ms. Thompson’s poetry is written from the heart, using beautiful language. Her topics are clear to the reader and provoke a lot of thought.(as read in the posted poem)