Whatever Works

Whatever  works

Even before the turkey was on the table 

with all the sides and pumpkin pie

lights began to twinkle on front porches

and in trees and shrubs

Santas, snowmen and reindeer

  replaced the pumpkins and ghosts

Last year I might have said “Give me 

a break. Why hurry into Christmas?”

But perhaps extending the holiday this

year will be cause for celebration

It will give us time to look for hope 

amid all the despair

More time to search for ways to ease the sadness

and work to replace tears with smiles

Giving us a break to climb into that sleigh and fly up and away

to find that bright light in all the darkness

Whatever works.