Reflections of Christmas

A Poem by Michelle Gent

Memories of my Childhood Christmas

Reflections of Christmas-

Auntie in her best holiday apron
Embroidered in gold silken threads
Staring out the front window
As she scours pots and pans

Watching as her guests walk up the driveway
To the front walk way, then ringing the bell
The dogs go crazy, barking, jumping, scattering
Then nearly knocking poor Auntie down
All the while she's trying to answer the door

The aroma of tangy marinara sauce is wafting
From the kitchen into each and every room
Meandering like strands of Christmas ribbon candy
Tempting your senses and reminding you
How acutely hungry you are

The solarium a make shift dining room
Housing four large card tables, serving as one
Camouflaged by heirloom linens, fine silver
And bone china rimmed in holy berries, sparkling
underneath the light of candlelabra's and tapered candles

Red velvet poinsettias fill the room
As does the sound of Christmas carols
Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin croon
White Christmas, Silver Bells, Auld Lang Syne
Completing the festive mood

From the dining room chairs you can look passed
through glass French doors leading tho the parlor
Showcasing an over-sized Victorian Christmas tree
Embellished in old world ornaments
and handmade children's treasure's
Silver dangling tinsel illuminated by a slashing golden star

Aunts, Uncles, cousins, Great aunts and uncles
Great-double Great Grandma's congregate
Four generations under one roof
Spending the holiday together

Auntie, Uncle and Grandma's sit at the head of the table
The progression appears to go from oldest to youngest
With youngsters sitting at their own assigned place
At the very far end of the table

Auntie waits for Uncle to give the signal to start the pasta pot
Being the captain of a shipyard he ran a tight and orderly ship
Once under way several courses start making their way to the table
The women deliver the coveted feast
Salad, antipasti, Italian bread, soup, pasta

Fish, upon fish, upon fish
Shrimp, scallops, calamari, squid, salmon
Just when you thought your gut would explode
Out came more food, eggplant parmesan, stuffed mushrooms etc.

For the last and final course- dessert
Assorted nuts, green and burgundy grapes, canoli's
Thorone, apple pie, chocolate cake, carrot cake, pecan pie
Cream puffs and Italian cookies
Followed by cordials, coffee and espresso

Eating and event, an extravaganza
A dance of the sugar plum fairies
Twelve conversations going on at once
Some in Sicillian, some in English

Food being passed, spilled, eaten
Crystal goblets accidentally being struck, sending children off
Children anxiously inquiring if the bells are Santa's sleigh
Youngsters pitch gets increasingly louder in anticipation
The pitch almost piercing, shushes shortly follow

Promptly after dinner uncle would give the order
And the ladies would rid the table of dishes
Next came opening of the Christmas presents
That was complete and utter pandemonium
Children and shredded paper, as far as the eyed could see
Screaming, laughing, whining
Parents smile with their eyes, taking pictures with Polaroid's

After the frenzy dissipates, a calming peace falls
The music seems softer the pace slower
Everyone's numb from the day's events
The children play games, fall asleep or watch T.V.
The gentlemen drink espresso with Samboka
Smoke cigarettes and play poker

While the women put their feet up
Reminiscing about Christmas' past
Stroking their little one's hair and thinking
That's the way it was Christmas Italian style