There the Christmas tree stand in all its splendor
Presents and packages piled at its feet
Its lights glimmer so beautifully

My family’s all here
Celebrating, bustling around
Pouring wine, sharing stories
Ripping open gifts
But me?
I simply sit in a corner and watch
Alone

I watch, as they all pass me by in a blur
Watch, as they scream and giggle with laughter
And off on the side, I notice
My cousin, with his girl

They’re on the sofa, comfy and cozy
Holding hands
From his pocket he pulls out a small white box
And hand it to her
Oh, how her bright blue eyes pop in disbelief, and
Her face light up with that brilliant smile
I see the words “thank you”
Escape her lips
And on her forehead he places a soft kiss

I wonder where you are tonight
Where you are, what you’re doing
On this snowy Christmas Eve

I wish you were here
I wish it was us,
On that sofa, comfy and cozy,
Holding hands
And me, handing you that gift you always asked for

I could almost hear you whisper to me,
“ You didn’t have to”,
As I gaze lovingly into your eyes

I could almost see you, see us,
Nuzzle nose-to-nose
And you kissing me on the cheek
Oh, how I’d love to be in your warm embrace tonight
Keeping me cozy
On this Christmas Eve

Waiting…. With you, and for You…..


We sit by the church steps
My head on your shoulder
My hand folded,
My fingers safely clasped,
In yours

We watch people’s feet shuffle down the street
We hear the endless honking
And screeching
Of the many cars that pass us by
The rear lights
The stoplights
Constantly flash before our eyes

You suddenly squeeze my hand,
As you gaze into the chaos of the streets
And quickly,
Five painful words escape your lips...

“Why can’t we be together?”,
You whisper

I heard only frustration
As you faintly spoke those words
I could sense your pain,
Your fear,
Your desire,
How they burn intensely within your heart

“Why can’t we already be together, my love?”, you ask again
Those words
They pierce my soul
I knew the familiar ache…. We both did

If only you know how many times I’ve asked myself
That same question

How I long
How I ache
Just to see you
Hold you, be with you,
Feel your embrace
Every
Single
Day

My thoughts...they float…. To the day
That unforgettable day…..
When you gave me the promise ring

It was a promise,
Our Promise,
Of someday, somehow,
Who knows when, who knows how, but someday
It was Our Promise….
Of forever

But oh,
How long,
How toiling the wait
So long,
So difficult
It sometimes makes me question
If the right time
Will even
Ever come….

But, I’m hanging on to Our Promise
No matter how far apart we are,
I’ll be waiting….
With you,
And for you….

Those thoughts, that reminder, Our Promise….
Make me smile

I turn to face you,
Wrap my arms around you,
And amid tears swelling in my eyes,
Whisper back to you,

“Just hold on a bit longer….
Just wait a bit longer, my love
I’ll be here,
Also waiting…
With you,
And for you…”



Sophia Kliatchko
1/30/2020