by Marti Fischer

(For those who don’t feel “merry” yet)

’Twas the night after Thanksgiving, and all through the town,
The glitter shone upward while some hearts sank down.
The leftovers rested in dishes with care,
But a hush in my heart said, “I still need repair.”

For the world seemed to shimmer with lights glowing bright,
Yet my soul felt much dimmer beneath winter’s night.
While neighbors hung garlands and laughter rang loud,
My spirit fell quiet — and under a cloud.

For holidays promise that hearts will feel whole,
That lost things return and joy plays every role.
That families make peace and old wounds stitch anew,
And everyone sparkles in peppermint hue.

But grief has its timing and never keeps score;
It can sit at your table though you shut every door.
It tiptoes beside you when memories ache,
And hides in the shadows of another heartbreak.

So if sorrow comes drifting like frost on a pane,
Or the cold in the season seeps into your brain,
If sadness or weariness settles inside —
Dear heart, it is human. You don’t have to hide.

The days have grown shorter; the sunlight is shy.
The winter winds whisper and sometimes we cry.
Your feelings are honest — they’re nothing to fear.
They simply mean life has been heavy this year.

So light every candle and lamp you can find;
Let brightness slip gently through cracks in your mind.
Release all the pressure of perfection’s delight —
“Good enough” still warms any wintery night.

Say “No” when you need to, and “Yes” when you must“.
Take moments to rest and be quick to adjust.
Let peace be the gift that you give to yourself,
Not cookies baked perfectly on the top shelf.

Shop simpler this season, or don’t shop at all.
Let comfort shrink burdens that once felt too tall.
Create what feels joyful, ignore what does not;
And cherish the grace in the time that you’ve got.

Sip cocoa, drink water, stay steady and kind;
Let kindness, not cocktails, bring ease to your mind.
And reach for a friend when your spirit feels blue —
Because no one can go it alone, even you.

And then, in the quiet where sorrows reside,
A small spark of hope may come sit at your side.
Not grand or extravagant, flashy or bright —
Just a soft, steady glow in the heart of the night.

For healing grows slowly — one breath at a time,
One step and one kindness, one small peaceful rhyme.
Till suddenly somewhere between starlight and dawn,
You feel something lift that once weighed you down.

And perhaps, in that stillness, you’ll hear in the night,
A whisper of wonder, all gentle and bright —
A voice from the heavens with nothing in sight
“Merry Christmas to you and to all, a good night.”