Blue Christmas

It was a December

of golden days

and crisp, sparkling nights.

I saw swooping pelicans

and Orion's belt,

bright blooming aloe

and holiday lights downtown.

Now that the brittle, shedding Christmas tree

is down by the street

and the ornaments have all been put away,

I flip through pictures of beach walks

and parties and presents opened and sunsets.

Most beautiful are the blues--

an azure sky,

the inky ocean

ruffled by an offshore wind,

and

indigo-purple mussels

holding fast to the rocks.