Here it is on SoundCloud

Christmas at a Distance

This is the year of Christmas at a distance.
We're sheltered in place by mutual insistence.
The world wilts and waits in reckless disarray;
Travel's still unsafe, even loved ones stay away.

We would rather gather, but we know it isn't wise.
So we meet six feet apart in family groups of fours and fives.

We burst onto balconies to sing Christmas carols,
Remembering a time when we didn't face such perils.
We wave from the window whenever a friend passes.
We hold up cheery messages and blow distant kisses.

We would rather gather, but we know it isn't wise.
So all eyes are on the mailbox, Granny is sending a surprise!

Everybody's baking, the snowman's sourdough,
Making houses out of gingerbread, trimmed with marshmallow snow.
A poinsettia plate of cookies left at the next door neighbors'
Getting groceries, shov'ling snow, helping with small favors.

We would rather gather, but we know it isn't wise.
We'll cheer the little children with a Santa Claus disguise.

Santa even meets online to answer children's letters.
"Have you been good," he asks. "Oh, we couldn't be better!"
"Have you been wearing your mask and hourly washing your hands?"
"Yes! And doing our homework, even though it's in Zoom-land."