Chess

Last night was the big party, tonight is close family,
my sons, my sister and her boys, and my wife.
My sister's husband is leading the church service.
We are having fun here, matching definitions,
challenging, guessing, and making canny jokes.
We should be in church, perhaps,
waiting for the birth of Jesus,
singing the praises of God's gift,
drinking in the silent night.

But the wise men, I heard, on this night,
played a round of chess,
because mortals need friendship
and a sense
that there may always be a way to win.