Christmas star

the winter of content
drapes her thin shoulders
as she prepares their late dinner
sprinkling pepper on casserole
warming kitchen fire, 
she hums a christmas song


the days are shorter now,
folding under bed of snow
slumbering nights envelops
house in mellowed lantern sky
frosted windows peek ceiling of
red bells, cones and festive boughs


paring small potatoes and carrots
she muses on months past,  
when he got his pink slip from
his work, and she too lost her job.
with a sigh, she gathers vegetable
stirring them in the boiling soup.


outside, the cold breeze stings his face.
finding work in the factory has been 
a tasteless mutton on his plate, but mounting 
bills must be paid, so he toils and waits
for the clock to sigh it was time to go.   
gathering thick coat, he trudges his truck 
through the slippery road, a long journey home.  


lighting the advent candles, she rearranges
home baked cookies, cheese, ham and fruits in
season’s platter.   a luxury in these hard times,
but she insisted on a nice dinner, specially 
christmas eve.  her hands linger on the table linen,
as she waits for her husband to arrive home.


the old brick house glitters in purple night
white dust swirling, he opens the front door
shrugging off the day's bitterness from his voice,   
he calls out a hearty greeting, "I'm home."
the aroma of home cooked food welcomes
and warms his ice numbed hands. 


taking off his woolen scarf, he embraces her,
saying, "I have a surprise for you."   


laughing she extends her hands in excitement  


he places a brown box wrapped in red ribbons near
pine decorated tree.   he looks at her, his heart racing


her eyes are shining, radiant bright 
as she peels away paper tissues 
to hold the classic books she always wanted to read.


her long hair is gone, skin pale from
chemo sessions, and frail from weight loss.   
but her fierce spirit radiates, and 
so does hope... fluttering, sparkling in his chest.


she is still the brightest star in his life

Posted for Romantic Friday Writers:   Challenge is Sparkle - Word limit:  400.  
Happy Holidays and thanks for the visit.

Update:   Thank you to Romantic Friday Writers for choosing me as Featured Writer for this post.