Christmas Breath Tumbles

Their breath tumbles out in a cold, white cloud,
Stopping to blanket the frozen window with a hazy glaze.
Then, hastily it fades away, escaping through the
Cruel crack with the driver’s oppressive cigarette smoke.

Out across the roof of the car, the broken sighs
Waltz with the monotony of the smoke
And in their damped hue they float, clashing with
The red and orange reflections quivering on the wet pavement.

The street is lined with store fronts glowing in
Merry Christmas lights that appear to bounce
And laugh in the gently raining snow…

Again, the children sigh and watch their breath
Tumble out into the cold, ignorant world.
They feel so alone…

The car turns down a damp, dim road and hisses maliciously
As it breaks the molded snow mantled over the abandoned driveway.
Slowly, the vehicle rolls to a stop, flanking the house
Long forgotten by the warm holiday cheer, and the
Children clamber out to face the deadened windows with stoic eyes.

Again, they sigh and watch the cab pull away, their
Breath tumbling in smoky waves between the eager beams
As the cabby cruises towards the lights, his mind set on a long, holiday dinner.
Then their breath is gone, vanishing to silently melt in the snow.

The youngest child tentatively stumbles up the stairs,
Pausing to glare at the monotonous windows.
Again, he sighs and shyly smiles as his breath
Hazily glazes the stolid grey pressing against the glass.
He raises a small gloved hand and slowly
Presses a reassuring finger into the moist fog.

“Merry Xmas, Dad.”

He reads in a hushed whisper as the fog
Fades away, consuming his one Christmas wish.
With a shrug, he opens the door and continues on his way.
His brother and sister left standing by the forgotten street,
Silent tears hissing down their frigid cheeks.

It’s never the same without dad.

Again, they sigh and totter forward, their
Thoughts on a Christmas dinner without a tree or family,
And their breath is left behind to tumble in
The ignorant Christmas Eve.