Underlined Poem by Louise Marie DelSanto

My mother, that once
wrapped Christmas gifts
and candy for all of us
tells me about how money
is scarce.

No more
fancy ribbon curling, handwritten
notes, loving sentiment. Her
hands smooth and soft, mastering
the task into the early morning
hours while my father would
comment about her lack of sleep
because of us.

My mother would attach
little notes, her writing round
and curvy, underlining love and
kisses. Months of wrapping and
placing gifts for each child. The
delight of opening them one by
one first on Christmas morning.
.
There is a small corner
by the tree where her gifts
and candy would topple over
The paper and ribbon filling up
the room in sequence. The
music boxes playing sweet
Christmas songs.

And I still have the
Porcelain snowbells and
music boxes,
the little Christmas cards
where she underlined love
and kisses.