party

From the moment we were alone in the room
after everyone else had left, we knew that
something wonderful had been affirmed.
The huge table littered with empty
coffee cups and wine glasses,
plates, cutlery, used napkins,
chairs straggling around the table,
marking the edges of conversations
and departures, should have been
draining, but symbolized fulfillment.

Here had gathered the friends of our lives,
the markers of joy and all of the intricacies
of fulfilled existence. The only news at this party
had been incremental adjustments to
what we already knew so well,
and in this comfortable way the gathering
defined what was good and happy
and wondrous in our particular world.