We waited on the steps, we were all going crazy.
It’s almost time, get ready, my mother said; the more
she enticed us the more we wanted to jump down the stairs

There were presents of every color,
the tree was decorated to a T.
It sparkled in the morning light
and we all stared in awe at its immense size

My mother turned on the music and sat on the couch
with cup of coffee after a long night of wrapping.
We ripped through the boxes and excited the dog

before my father would come in, we had to clean it all.
It’s Christmas, we all said, how come we have chores on Christmas.