Tonight's Poet Corner: The Day After

The Day After
by Belinda Roddie

The noise has dissipated,
the leftovers packed up and then
served on plain plates, the
presents worn, eaten, or saved
for later. Back home, we still

let our tree light up in the dim
living room space. We devour
candies and cookies and sweets,
drink spiced tea until our
stomachs hurt, as we readjust to
life after a month of anticipation.

Now that it's over, we can hold
each other tighter - speak less,
but kiss more, thank our family
and friends for reminding us of
why each night is worth counting
stars for. And as the echoes

of the last carol subside, we are left
with fragments of celebration, of
solace and of peace. But collected,
they create a whole image, and we
frame it with our fingers, which
are just beginning to grow warm.