Nativity

We are weak from travelling 

Around the world

We have walked many miles 

After kissing mother goodbye 

We need to both lie down

And keep walking

Maybe we will stop at the inn

Like the nativity 

Alice whispers 

Although I hope the room 

Is warmer 

I hold her hand tightly 

To prevent me

From stalling

And falling 

You fill me up

I say

And she leans in closer

Another year draws to its end

We take a deep breath

Hope for happier ones

With stories

And words

And adventures

She lets go of my grip

And claps her hands in glee

Just like the nativity

She is a child 

Old enough to love. 

God's Poems

Dear old year

I whisper under my breath 

You have come and gone 

Like a gaze into the fire 

Notes scribbled on a page 

Breaths taken in a frozen bowl 

Alice is the host of this party 

Her dainty little mouth

Chewing sugar and candy 

I wonder what next year will bring

She sings 

I can not bear to think of another year

It makes my stomach taut 

Perhaps it is better to dream 

To be wrapped up in clouds

And winter sunshine 

Keeping the world outside

Away

We are good at that

All snug and warm together

The kettle bubbles

Alice skips from lounge to kitchen

All excited and young

I watch her 

And can't help feeling

We are all God's poems.

Big Clock

Alice takes the ancient brass key

And winds up the big clock

I watch her

See her smile

It is reflected in the glass face 

Perhaps we feel safe

Living in the borders 

Forgetting what comes

And goes

No use crying over spilt milk 

I turn the page on the calendar 

Wonder what we saw on all those days

Alice turns the key so tight

We gain more time

I sigh

The clock makes a low tick tock 

Like a heart beat

It lulls us off to sleep 

We sleep so deep

There is no place for dreams 

But we must have them

Of course

I take her hand in mine

There is a sore spot from where she held 

The key

I kiss it gently 

Wanting to take away the pain. 

Private Property

You lay the table

Hatter pours the tea

The tea pot is chipped and broken 

When it is poured the tea sprinkles 

Still it is a magical drink 

You look up and down the table

Weighing up the stories 

Remembering the music

And the jokes 

Your face is violet 

And sage

You wipe your lips 

With a silver towel 

It is like swimming

All bubbly and warm

It is a special time

A ritual 

One that is our private property

I do not know what I would 

Do without you

You nod and smile

Knowing you are needed

A tear falls gently off my cheek

Perhaps I am needed too.