Holiday secure

The fire of winter burns low and glows
spreading orange shadows across faces
our offspring huddle around the chiminea
each leaning against one and the other
for warmth that cannot be found in flame

These children carry expectations
of life, of the future, of understanding
and with them go our hopeful dreams
for purpose, fulfillment, perhaps joy
and eventually children to carry on

But for now the aims of the future,
the need for survival of our kind,
sits a silent company of good feeling
for innate appreciation of just being
the wondrous collective of our love.