warmth of the moment

Mom brings in fresh baked cookies from the kitchen
Still wearing the flour covered apron that hides her beautiful blue dress
Father sitting in his favorite chair reading aloud with head tilted back
As his glasses rest at the tip of his nose
Children sitting at fathers’ feet listening intently
Picturing in their minds the fantastical voyage
The family dog curls up in front of the fireplace
Basking in the warmth of the moment
Above the mantle hangs a portrait of family present and past
As he looks at it he smiles and carefully removes the scene from the magazine
He folds it, places it in the pocket of his dirt encrusted jacket
Curling up beside the dumpster in the alley
Covers himself with a newspaper quilt
Picturing himself by the fireplace
In his mind he basks in the warmth of the moment