Snow falls
past the window
drifting to cover the frozen ground.
Inside, coated with warm, glowing light,
a stronghold against
the dark and the cold.
A family lives, talking and laughing
protected by warmth and light
I sit by the hearth,
watching the life around me.
Not an outsider, excluded,
alone
but an observer— invited, included
watching the proceedings with an air of contentment
family and friends
not divided among any boundaries
but mashed together
one organism basking in the glow
provided by light and affection.
The conversations grow heated,
fervent
But never hateful or cruel
just passion brought about by comfort
emotions ebb and flow,
but there is a consistency to the room.
A primal consistency, as old as humanity
brought by comfort and security
when weathering the elements.
A consistency shown, and brought from
clustering around a fire.
As the conversation moves to another room
I follow,
unbidden yet accepted,
one amongst many