Tonight's Poet Corner: Elsewhere

Elsewhere
by Belinda Roddie

There's a circle drawn
on Christmas Eve
a circle that leads
to a winding staircase
of ice

a portal
that draws us into
a festival
in a tiny village
where people are thankful
for what they have

There's a circle drawn
on Christmas Eve

They are celebrating
They drink hot tea
mulled cider
and they eat the stale cookies
from last year
yet the royal icing
somehow still tastes sweet
as two girls kiss under
wilted mistletoe

There's a circle drawn

an infinity
is hidden in rain and ice
in a blizzard that reduces
vision to white
and in the static
you hear the hiss of a fire
that still burns despite
the withering splinters

There's a circle drawn
an etching, a basic rune
that reminds you of
your first gift: a bauble
from your grandmother
silver and sapphire

Her hair was crowned
with red light and green holly
She smiled when you laughed
and the whole world
felt as light as the orb
cupped in your tiny hands

In this village
the people pray to gods
who drink no wine
and inflict no punishments
They sing songs
with multiple meanings
and they are mesmerized
by crystal snowfall

There's a circle drawn
on Christmas Eve

and you hold the branch
that has carved the shape
into the unyielding frost
Watch now as the solstice
swallows you whole
You will be warm there
meager in wealth
but still satisfied