Last Lonely Corner

Somewhere close by
a bell chimes,
resonating across time
the sound of gaiety
bounces like a child’s balloon
bringing with it pictures
of dead faces smiling out from
far off Christmases.
Long forgotten smells permeate the air,
hot mince pies, smothered in brandy butter:
Chestnut stuffing:
Bacon wrapped baby sausages
sizzling around a fat turkey.
Lights twinkley enough to dazzle
and soften the scroogiest of souls;
merriment merry enough to amuse
the most mirthless of hearts.
Music rings out from beyond yesterday
and she sings along with the ghosts of memory,
until inevitably, POP!…
The balloon bursts.
For a few precious moments
the room is filled with stardust.
Then the dark curse of loneliness
falls and settles upon
the last corner of her life.