The Christmas Party

______________________________________

 

She took the cardboard box down from the top of the coat closet

Last year’s thumbtacks were still stuck through the ends of the paper-chains

The soft bladder of a red balloon was hanging like a spent passion

She pulled from the bottom of the box a modern scroll announcing Christmas   

A length of silver tinsel

And with her eye softly resigning 

A sprig of plastic mistletoe to pin above the door