Small-town downtown,
Christmas Eve:
stores close at 5:00 PM–
    less competitive spirit,
    more desire for all all to be home,
    to have this evening with family and friends,
    perhaps to bask in the warmth of a candlelit service,
    or to heat up some holiday grog
    and watch the snow sift. 

By 6:00 PM
    the lights of the three-block business district
    still sparkle from lampposts
    and street-spanning swag,
    and shop owners–
    just for tonight–
    leave their window displays aglow.

The only movement is the slow snowfall
and an occasional employee
locking up
and heading over to the bank
to drop the deposit in the slot.

The few who pass
nod, smile and say, "Merry Christmas!"
and mean it.
They feel relief:
end of the bustle;
now a day to breathe and receive.

And no December 26, 4:00 AM clearance sales
for miles.

Time enough.
Time enough.

As the snow continues:
time enough. 

Text and image © 2013 by Dirk deVries. All
rights reserved.