After the initial holiday is over, there's always this little lull for me between Christmas and New Year's. I decided to write a short little poem to try and illustrate this feeling.

So Christmas is over.

The presents are all opened,

the feasts eaten,

the lights and fires lit,

and people start to go home.

Carols have been sung at full volume,

and everyone is feeling the lull.

What do you do when the lights are put away

with all the stockings hung with care,

and the tree is taken down?

What do you do when the cheer is over

and the excitement of the holiday season

starts to die down?

You look ahead.

You move forward.

You think about the fun times

you had over the holidays,

and the not so fun ones, too.

You look to the new year,

this arbitrary moment on an arbitrary calendar

that signifies change

and movement.

Hold that feeling

of warmth, happiness, and home

in your head,

in your heart,

as long as you can.

Keep moving forward,

onward to new things.

That's what you do when the lights are all out.

You light new ones.

That's what you do when the cheer is gone.

You make it anew.

That's what you do when the darkness of winter threatens.

You make your own warmth

and light

and happiness.

Keep moving forward,

and stay warm

and bright.

Happy New Year.