Wintry Nights

December descends suddenly. 

A year has gone by so swiftly. 

The holy month commences,

With prayers and hymns 

And packing up the gifts.

Holding my little Christmas tree

I live through those years.

Christmas fetes in school and my little one.

Stalls filled with food,

Selling hotcakes fresh from our ovens.

Games in the grounds,

Races and raffles.

The Christmas cheer,

Carols in the church.

And then, the 

Midnight mass.

Stuffing up the stockings. 

Wide-eyed glee 

In the morn.

But he's a big boy now 

And studying far away. 

My tree has shrunk.

And December is now 

Very long.