Through These Months

In October, we squared off

around cold hard tables

in a cold hard room

We wanted to remove our masks,

but we'd worn them for too long.

We wanted answers to be given out like candies:

sweet, satisfying, bite-sized,

but we left empty-handed.

In November, it took six of us

to wrestle the table into position.

Chairs were brought from all around the house,

and cats wound themselves around our legs.

We ate yams and turkey off red plates with old silver,

surrounded by colored glass, lacquered wood, 
books, and friends.

We took the time to be thankful for finding ourselves

by finding each other.

In December we linked arms

and wandered down cold dark streets

into warm bright rooms.

We put on our favorite hats and

passed gifts of glass and jelly,

candles and books

around the circle
and ate sweet things to ward off the bitterness.

          --Sappho