The holidays…

That spill & wash

of extremes –

everything &

     nothing,

chaos &

     silence,

crowds &

     isolation,

bright light &

     healing dark…

The holidays –

that span of time

that left me

on the far shore

of Self,

      breathless,

     disoriented,

     & stumbling –

have past,

& I have again,

at last regained

the holiness

of my

      own

          steps.

— C.Birde, 1/23