Thanks to eveyone who replied with crits sorry I haveny replied persoanlly 
but have revised aftre comments. I am in a bit of a muddle with Christmas at 
the moment.


Home for Christmas

She sits in her chair
settles to watch the soap
sips tea from a china cup.
Snug in her dressing gown
she smells of bath oil, and lavender
hot buttered toast and good books.
Bubbles like baubles still fizz in grey curls
and her glasses, half mooned
steam at the end of her nose.

A ring on the doorbell
and she shuffles down the hall
her frame one step ahead.
With a draught and a flurry of white
her grandson arrives
wearing civvies and a smile.
“Have a can nan” he laughs
opening the beer with a spurt
from cold trigger fingers.

A loose tail wags the dog
till the welcome becomes
a curl at his feet.
They sit together on the sofa
watch the soap evaporate
bubbles pop on pine.
He searches the twinkle of tree
for his present, places hers beneath.
She drinks beer from the can
wipes tears from her eyes
sees the unshed ones in his.

sally james