We eat and drink, we speak of this and that,
the children play, the adults smile, we chat,
and see ourselves, our eyes, the way we tilt our heads
while thinking of the things we should have said
about the way we were
and will be if we gather here next year.
There will be more or fewer then, perhaps –
who know if time will open gaps
or close them, bind or loosen ties.
But there’s this ‘always thing’ with families
– threads that spread like spores
to strengthen all of us.
Liz McPherson