whips by
as the temperature drops
and Anna begs me to take her
Christmas shopping
it’s the only time she seems to need me
but today
without her Ipod
I take the chance to talk with her
find out about her friends
and her teachers
hoping she’ll know that I’m there
if she needs me

I agonize over what to get Ben for Christmas
wandering the mall at crazy hours
wanting the perfect gift

but nothing seems to say what
I want it to say