Mother, Christmas Evening

She sat quietly in the circle,

less and less words each year

but more and more smiles

and twinkles from her eyes.

Laura came with me to take

a spot in the circle.

I think she got it.

She got the time line and

the echo to Christmases past.

My mother had on her yuletide

earrings and looked so cozy

in her sweater.

Her heart warmed by the fibers

and yet warmed even more

by her descendants

all the way down to her

great grandson.

And Laura sat next to me

silent most of the time.

And I wondered if one day she will

be the matron of honor

sitting quietly, smiling, twinkling

like a little star

with my mother’s heart in hers.