Slip out - to look at the clouds

To the parents at 1AM.

To the arguments in the car
when you’re late.

To the flush-face intergenerational
snapping in the kitchen.

To the chef who feels taken for granted.

To the black sheep of the family.

To the butt of the family in-joke
(they don’t find it funny).

To the typecast.

To the spectacular tantrum,
the teenage door slam, the ‘adult’
flounce off.

To those whose families are
diminished by loss,
splintered by division.

To those whose brains
won’t let them enjoy the day
as much as they feel they are
expected to.

For those we miss - the people who used to be

right here.

For those who are hard up and
don’t know what’s coming next.

There’s a lot of expectation
around Christmas.

FAMILY / TRADITION / SANTA / JOY

JOY is not compulsory - ever. It’s especially
not compulsory - just because

IT’S CHRISTMAS.

Here’s to the fact that it only comes at you
once a year; to the moments of peace; to the
bits afterwards when you lie on the couch
and fall asleep. To watching a movie,
because you feel like it.

To those of you who love it,
go hard. Enjoy the face right off it.
Squeeze the genuine joy out of it. Bask
in those days of relaxation.

To those of you who love it,
see if you can be
the best part of the day
for someone who doesn’t seem to be loving it.

This one goes out to those that might have
a wobbly Christmas.

To those who manage to slip out at one point;
(side-stepping the tinsel and hideous JOY baubles);
when it’s all too much
and wander outside
to look at the clouds;

and... to ‘dream intentionally’.

I FOUND this piece in a ‘Public Service Announcement’ by Lorin Clarke - The Big Issue, November 2022.