This Christmas, as ever at this time of year, <br />there’s a worldwide brotherhood and sisterhood <br />whose numbers I cannot count <br />and would not wish to know; <br />who seldom know each other; <br />and perhaps, that’s just as well.. <br /> <br />who, in their dressing-gowns on Christmas morn, <br />amid bright wrappings hasty torn, <br />and exclamations… <br />fall suddenly quiet, <br />are far, somewhere else for several moments; <br />return, and look silently in thought, deeply, <br />at partner, children; their eyes <br />now a little more shining than they were.. <br /> <br />or who, at a lively dinner-party, <br />fall quiet for a minute, <br />look around the table, thoughtfully; or <br />squeeze a hand, secretly; then <br />return as if they’d never been away; <br />return perhaps with new vigour <br />in their conversation and in response.. <br /> <br />or even, acceptably alone at Christmas, <br />celebrate it in this quietness; <br />if you knew them, which you don’t, <br />you might say something to them; <br />or, just might not know what you should say.. <br /> <br />who are these, suddenly quiet <br />for a moment, far away, <br />celebrating something in their quietness? <br /> <br />they are those whose quietness would say, <br />this is what I never knew, when I a child; <br />longed for, never thought it would come true; <br />how fortunate I am, that I’ve survived <br />to feel like this… <br /> <br />Indians might say, this is the story of your present life, <br />which you wrote with your previous life.. <br />the drama of separation now transcended… <br />that may be so, explain a lot; or it may not… but, <br /> <br />look at them- when they don’t see you doing that- <br />look at them deeply with the eyes of love; <br />saying in yourself, yes, yes, yes…<br /><br />Michael Shepherd<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-secret-society-of-the-suddenly-quiet/
