we were watching the late night news
it was after eleven on friday night
we had a late dinner
and nice bottle of italian red
we were sitting in front of the television
watching the late night news
we were talking about our forthcoming dinner
tonight with the nasty girls
they are our favorite dinner guests
my lover was telling me about the roast duck
the honey, the garlic
the whole story
my mouth was watering
and i was thinking that the evening would be a success
i'm thinking this
and watching the news
out of the corner of my eye
when i realize i recognize the houses on the newsclip
i recognize the houses that are burning
i recognizc the houses that are burning on the late night news
it is the home of our friend
we turn up the volume to realize
that it is the house next door
we called our friend on the phone
and talked to her as the flames shot higher
and the water came down beside her
it was like watching o.j. simpson on television
i was tempted to tell her to go to the window and wave
it is saturday, late afternoon
dinner is only a few hours away
our house is ripe with roasted duck
and sweet clouds of something precious
the tragedy of our friend's neighbours real enough
i am almost tempted to celebrate
but that is not the ticket
there is nothing to be gained
there is no real joy
in being spared the suffering
that will come easily enough
our duty is to recognize the life we have
we owe it to cosmic gods of grace and persuasion
to dance that god damned dance
to drink the sweet wine
i have two stories
this past christmas
my eldest sister sally was wrapping presents
in our family we have a draw
she had my name
and was wrapping gifts for me alone
he youngest son, who is three
was watching
after some time he commented
that there were no presents
for "aunt kirsty", my wife
my sister tried to explain
how the draw worked
and that someone else
would be bringing gifts for kirsty
alex said nothing
and left the room
only to return moments later
he had gone to his bedroom
and found one of his toy cars
hc proceeded to wrap it
and then placed it under the tree
so that aunt kirsty would have a present
last christmas
my wife and i had food poisoning
she worse than me
neither of us were in much shape
for venturing out into the cold
we wanted no company
but answered the door
to find our neighbors johnathan and cindy
with groceries in hand
and movies in plastic bags
they had hot soup
and medicine
they brought us toilet paper
life is hard enough for all of us
some of us have our houses burn in the night
bank machine windows fog over
with the boozy breath of our lost brothers, fathers, sons
we life in a society where the government does not care
but instead caters to the rich on the backs of the rest
those of us who have them
should rejoice with our families, friends
break that bread
tonight i am grateful for those at this table
that we are here
that we choose to be here
that we choose to feel good about our lives
they are the one chance we have
and they are never better
then when in a room of friends
salute
Copyright © michael dennis
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