Deep Evergreen. Full. Red and gold balls and bells; tops with gilded bands; Russian-esque spires all around. Four sets of lights; the white nina doll ornaments Mira loves. The giant bow. Our Christmas tree, welcoming as ever. Shadows deep within the brightly-lit boughs — the only hint of sorrow in the joy

cold night
we place carefully-wrapped gifts
underneath

first published in Image Curve, December 17, 2015

photograph by Evelyn Chin