I play Christmas carols late in January:
    Oh, Holy Night,
        Carol of the Bells,
            The Huron Carol,
                more,
old arrangements
    stretching back to childhood–

    nostalgia–

on a piano we are about to donate
    as we downsize,
        getting realistic about our future–

    double nostalgia.

And when I'm finished,
    there behind me, watching, listening,
        our gold-eyed boy, Miko–
            fascinated, it seems.

Has he been here the whole time?
    What does he hear?
        What does he wonder?

I am flattered, honored
    to have such an audience of one.

Text and image © 2023 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.