The birthday dinner for me
at my brother’s
seemed formal this year
the extended family all seated
in the dining room
over fine place settings
beneath the crystal chandelier

on the windows, mid-November’s
Belgium lace of snow was dancing
to enhance the cozy joy
of these too-rare reunions

I took a moment upon arrival
at their doorway
to admire my brother’s
grand pine tree, and reminisce
the stands of evergreen
at my long-missed lakeshore
of Bon Echo

soon we celebrated
with fajitas, wine and chatter
but tension broke the fun
when my sister’s feelings
were innocuously hurt
tears and hugs to follow

then there was the drama
of an accidentally smashed bulb
in the chandelier, blasting tiny glass
particles across the table
alarmed guests rising to inspect
their drinks and food

the moment to open presents arrived
I dipped into the packages
brothers and sisters, daughter
husband, mother, nieces
and nephews watching

the first gift bag
was from my sister, who lives in rural Ontario
a reach into the mauve tissue
brought out the item on top -
a large pine cone

confusion and giggles
curious reactions
went around the table
but I ran my fingers along
the pointed ridges, peaked in perfect form
and brought it to my face
to inhale the scent

“Oh, thank you. It’s takes me
right back to Bon Echo.
Is it from your forest?”

She didn't reply, but I knew
how she'd always understood
my longing for those woodlands.

The large cone made its rounds
across the table
but with my family’s sense of humour
the phallic-suggestive shape soon was fodder
so now, tears came from laughter

but I learned later
that the surprise was on the giver
who hadn’t even noticed
as she'd cut across the lawn
to avoid the driveway's ice on her way in
that this pine cone had fallen right into
her gift bag

12/04/2003