every year

family celebration
grandma decorated the house
grandpa lit the stone fireplace
red noses gradually enter the heated home
dressed up as beautifully as the glowing Christmas tree

         warm hugs, wet kisses, tracks of lipgloss on my cheeks

seductive fragrances from the kitchen flatter the senses
parents hectically sprint around the massive oak table
bibs are put on
food gets cut into tiny bites
a quick “thank god”
and the huge banquet is opened
give me the beans, I would like to have the potatoes, no I asked for them first
son-in-law compliments the casserole
father and son discuss about the stock market
aunts share latest gossip
food is shoveled into mouths

         meanwhile in the children’s world
         the air is tense to tear by excitement
         short fidgety legs wiggle under the table
         big pleading eyes - can we get up?

finally
like a mob of hunting dogs we sprint
to free fondly decorated packets
from the dark green arms of the magnificent fir-tree
crumpled wrapping paper, torn ribbon
in a few seconds the tidy living room becomes a garbage dump

         will all my wishes be fulfilled?

little islands appear, small bodies surrounded by
thousand tiny building blocks
pink miniature doll clothes

         checking eyes look up, searching for unfair preference
         but parents are smart, made sure no tears roll
         because of unequally distributed presents

facilitated parents
toast their achievements
red wine in crystal glasses, granny hunted off the good ones
happy the children assume their presents

         material symbols of affection
         the tradition of showing love