“Merry Christmas” 2019 Painting by: Ronald Raab, CSC
I inherited Dad’s round shoulders
I inherited Dad’s round shoulders
that barely filled his army jacket
when his 117-pound body became adult.
Later, he shouldered our family,
Wearing a sleeveless butcher’s apron
tucked around his identity.
He hung up his bloodied uniform after Christmas,
wiping sawdust from his leather shoes
for an afternoon of family visits.
He wrapped fresh hams for his five sisters
As peace offerings, knowing he could not
bear the burden of sibling conflicts.
My father, my mother, and I drove a few cold miles,
tires crunching a path on side streets.
As we pulled up to each family hearth,
the uncles welcomed us at the door,
inviting us in and receiving our heavy coats,
draping them on wooden hangers in the hall closet,
placing our damp hats and gloves on the radiator.
Being the youngest of twenty-four cousins,
I was the only child overhearing
my aunts and uncles recalling a wartime Christmas–
and, now, tales of broad athletic shoulders
of each of their budding adult children.
In each of the sisters’ homes, an aunt passed around
a white platter as fragile as parchment
that presented homemade, walnut fudge
and coconut cookies. Colored tree lights and candles
along with lipstick grins chased away
the gray of late Sunday afternoon.
After exchanging gifts and weaving family stories
into a warm shawl, my uncle fetched our belongings
and opened my mother’s coat, bearing the hint of Estee Lauder.
She slid one arm inside each silk-lined sleeve.
He offered my father his wool trench coat.
My uncle butlered my jacket for each arm. I punched
each sleeve. He tucked the coat up
around my small shoulders. He handed me
my stocking cap and knitted mittens
and patted my back with assurance and farewell.
I felt grown up, bursting out of my clothes
because of encouraging hands upon my shoulders,
belonging among my family that carried the world.
Merry Christmas! Blessings to you and your loved ones.
Peace on Earth,
Fr. Ron
Broken But Not Divided 