Family by Chris Sorrenti
they are distant
my entire upbringing
saturday's late feature
watched asleep
at the wheel of my couch
spiraling backward
out of control
vibrating into pieces
a December flurry
collecting in mind
the ghosts of christmases past
young couple
kids in tow
at the santa claus parade
standing on main street
waiting for the float
but soon apparent
i am a stranger
driving by on a couch
wave!
wave to them
harder!
but they can't see me
shout
shout to them
louder!
but they can't hear me
mom dad
i miss you
the way we were back then
why don't you recognize me?
why doesn't this couch steer the way
i want it to?
brother sister
gone their own paths
why did the family have to grow up
so quickly?
morning bells
telephone
the room is full of telephones!
quick! stop the couch!
get up!
Hello?
oh hi mom
no just resting
as slumber's cloud lifts
serenity rises
with maternal reminder
soon
this family
will once again converge
to a familiar date
and place
sanctuary in a flurry
the happy spirits
of christmases past
and present
© 1992
Revised © 2018
970 hits as of September 2024
04/18/2018 Author's Note: Inspired by a dream, the dream itself inspired by the influence of geographical distance and age on family relationships, and thus missing the closeness of parents and siblings while living under the same roof.
Posted on 04/18/2018 Copyright © 2024 Chris Sorrenti
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