we played and sang 

at the soup kitchen in the basement

of the methodist church

before coming home to prepare 

for our big dinner

everyone came   colin and marcy

antoinette and nathaniel

and our upstairs neighbors pip and estella

and their bull terrier magwitch

what a feast we had   and now

in the afterglow of good food and company

we are saying our good nights

and drive safely   and one more hug

and the door closes   and it is quiet

and it is perfect   and it has been   and is   a merry christmas