Christmas Lights.

I consider it

such a nice coincidence,

a pleasant irony,

a blessing,

a tender mercy,

a happy fact,

that even though winter

is cold

and sad

and I'm wishing

more than I expected

for summer long since past,

it is also the only season

that we get to have

Christmas lights.

How is it

that they make everything

softer and warmer?

They push away the darkness

gently

but firmly

and give the room

a tint of magic.

The kind of magic

that makes laying in bed

in the morning,

waking up slowly,

take on a divine quality--

just being alive

with Christmas lights

is an experience

that makes you

a better human.

I know I'm not saying anything original,

but it feels authentic

in my heart.