Christmas is gone
six months ago
Sweltering July
working hard to push
June aside

Windows closed tight
since April or perhaps May
Summer winds blasting
south with heated intensity
Electricity mongers rejoice

The aged table still sits
beneath a cooling unit
Best suited to a yesteryear
theme park carnival ride
Water droplets drip in rebellion

There is a shelf sturdy and strong
just down from the tabletops edge
though covered with dust now it is
Neatly within gift packages reside
scotch tape yellow and curled

Boxes swathed in holiday wrap
from birthdays past to Santa’s big night
A few carry a bunny or two from when the boy
was not yet a man – and even after

The package on top
hardly dusty at all
taken from beneath
her tiny light-covered tree
now placed along with the rest

Waiting for their day to be retrieved

(Wishing a wonderful birthday month to my son. I hope you are healthy, happy and loved. I miss you. Mom)