In dreams
the winter is deep
and children are taught the nature of cycles
as carefully as we teach the cycles of nature.
In dreams
symbols dance among the stars
where meaning is up to interpretation
and metaphor is the cornerstone of life.
In dreams
the matchstick girl does not freeze to death
because all people care for the weakest among us
and every child born is one of ours.
So in dreams
we celebrate every one of them
not just the birth of a single child
whose sigil we wear once a year
singing songs that never really change,
our loud sweaters draped in tinsel
and metaphor we pretend isn't metaphor,
insisting this one thing
this one literal story
devoid of any metaphor
must never change.
©2019 Adrienne Veronese
