Bright tree lights illuminate
the corners of a darkened room. 
Blonde heads bent over a Scrabble
board.  Telly off.  Carols played
on Spotify, paired by offspring
to a block of white plastic their
grandad would’ve scoffed at
if he had still been here. 
Laughter.  A shared moment of joy
between a girl and boy no longer
children – always children
to the mother who sits by
and observes blonde heads
bent over Scrabble board, content
to find Christmas still exists beyond
the end of childhood.

15^th Dec 2021