*Spoiler alert!* This is a serial - don't jump into the middle! Part I is here.
I gave the cat some tuna. As for me,
Since it was Christmas, cookies seemed the thing.
An absent-minded glance toward the tree
Gave thought to stuff that Santa used to bring.
That noise outside had set my mind adrift,
To Christmases when presents came from magic,
And joy was wrapped in ev'ry single gift,
And grown-up words like devastating... tragic...
And separation, never brushed my ear.
I wondered what he'd bring for me tonight,
If he were real. If he were coming here.
Some magic jar of Yes, or Second Sight?
And then, the cat. She tapped me with her paws,
And jumped. And there he was.
Yes.
Santa Claus.
- End of Part IV -
Go to Part V.
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Alysa Salzberg
Melissa Miles McCarter
Scarlett Sumac
jlsathre
Matt Paust
Jowita Bydlowska
Salon.com
Comments
You DO believe!
Oh, thank you for this magic, DB!
The cat knew all along.
Like a gift. Thankyou Bard, these were beautiful.
"And so I went to let him in the door.
A noise -- and now my hair stood up on end.
I had a sense I'd heard this sound before...
When I was small. And I could play pretend."
and
"And separation, never brushed my ear.
I wondered what he'd bring for me tonight,
If he were real. If he were coming here.
A magic jar of Yes, or Second Sight?
And then, the cat. He tapped me with his paws,
And jumped. And there he was."
Lovely and touching...
Fusun: thank you for coming along. It's always a pleasure to see you here.
sweetfeet: thanks for your second note - I'm going to stick the spoiler alert in all of them now. Your comment is extremely flattering. But working in iambic pentameter, I have one particular bard always looking over my shoulder - and HE was brilliant.
pastvoices: that is very nicely said. Thank you for staying with me here, while I explore things a little.
trilogy: yes Virginia! And writing these has gotten me reacquainted with him, in some way.
Kate: thank you for being so willing to read. I hope I'm not stretching the original too far. Thanks for your vote.
catch: be careful how you dip into that jar, it can be very, very intoxicating.
Kim: my sister pointed out to me that I didn't put the little " - End of Part N - " at the bottom of this one (I'm fixing that now), so she thought it was over. It's not over!
anna1: wow. That is very nicely said. Thank you!
Antoinette: what I said to Kim. Not done yet! Just curl up for a little longer.
Pilgrim: your comment, specifically, is very welcome. I was terrified of the word "tragic" - I was sure I was telegraphing, on a silver platter. Thanks for reassuring me.
Caroline: the first quatrain that you quoted there was a little miracle of rhyming words. I had "end". "Pretend" was a gift, that let me pivot at a crucial spot. I just love this stuff.
scupper: thanks. There's more - I hope I don't go saccharin.
Thank you all for your dogged determination. And look! No commercial interruption!
Goodnight!