Christmas Eve, 1965

The long ride up
To Lindstrom, Minnesota.
My great grandparent’s
House on the lake.
We slid down the hill out back
On cardboard sleds.
We ate lutefisk
And boiled potatoes
And Swedish sausage.
After dinner we
Gathered around the tree
Opening our presents…
my great grandparents
speaking Swedish.
Realizing now, so many years later
The greatest gift
Was knowing them. 

Published in Grit Magazine.