Xmas 1952

I am sleeping in the
Back bedroom in
Grandma’s house on
North Anna street
Protected by the palm
Tree drawing waking to
Xmas morning,
Breakfast is in the air
With bacon toast, sugar
Pops, hot chocolate, all
Of which are secondary
To finding our presents
Once everybody arrives.
Grandpa sits in his chair
Grandma stands in the
Kitchen door family sits
Around all talking admiring
The Xmas tree and feeling
The warmth of the coal
Fired furnace in the back
Middle of the living room,
The warm smell of burning
Coal permeates the room.
A cousin begins to pick up
Presents and call out the
Recipient who is urged to
Open it carefully to save
The wrapping paper and
Name tag for re-use
Next year as something
New to delight the frugal.
The long wait is an agony
For a seven-year-old boy,
But eventually I tear open
My present of a small gray
Plastic submarine which
Submerges and comes
Back to the surface of the
Sink powered by baking soda
And a child’s enthusiasm.
Even at Xmas life is a
Learning experience in science.
For us kids Xmas at Grandma
And Grandpa’s House was
A marvelous event best
Remembered for the
Mix of scents from a coal fire,
Sugar cookies, bacon, ham,
Biscuits, gravy, ladies cologne,
Wet snow outside, and the
Special scent of the
House on North
Anna street
At Xmas
Time.