Relative Yuletide - Revised Version

     The revised version of the workshopped villanelle for Dr. Mackie's Poetry Writing course.

Gather ‘round the Christmas tree

while we swap stories and sing carols;

our life as we celebrate the Nativity.

May be the season, or maybe just Kerri,

but fun is spats with Aunt Sheryl

as we gather ‘round the Christmas tree.

Baking pies and the double chocolate chip cookies,

Tim’s feeding that barn kitten – probably feral? –

our life as we celebrate the Nativity.

Grandma clipping coupons with Hailey,

cat claws putting ornaments in peril

as we gather ‘round the Christmas tree.

While the rest of us watch Jimmy Stewart on TV

the boys hang out at the burn barrel;

our life as we celebrate the Nativity.

“Just one more picture!” - Mom’s incessant plea,

“…Don we now our gay apparel…”

Gather ‘round the Christmas tree

as we celebrate the Nativity.