Merry Christmas

Each year this time

I am cast

I react

I stand

I stir

I charm

I trim

I try

same terms

same system

same scars

same shame

Each year this time I err

This year this time

I am smart

I sit

I stay

I stare

I stray

I say

I am

my terms

my year

my art

my air

my this

This year this time I rise

Beth Mulcahy lives in Ohio with her husband, two kids and loyal Havanese dog sidekick. Beth works for a company that provides technology to people without natural speech. She writes poetry, fiction, memoir, and dreams about visiting Scotland. Her work has appeared in various journals and she has been nominated for a Pushcart prize. Check out her latest publications at https://linktr.ee/mulcahea