12.24.2024

Hiccups in Aramaic

We bellyache vaguely

of the holiday blues.

I'll lay mine out

for you:


There was a brief time

in my life

when I was 

almost the hero.

Estranged parents

a wayward replacement

and my brother

they didn't make

met under the same roof

to sit at a long table

with name cards

placed strategically

snowmen and elves

drawn on company time.


Twice a year

this healing was held

after decades of separation

brought together

by what we all thought

would last.


We were wrong

but we have those

memories, silent

and loud

like gunshots

unaware of whether

to be grateful or lost

in the wake

of what almost was.


I would have worn

a better shirt

had I known.


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