the relatives arrive

the relatives arrive,
the aunts
and uncles, so rarely seen.
they bring a dog
and ask if you mind
as he runs off the leash.
the cousins
come in droves, energetic
with
bottles
of wine. pies
and cakes. they've
parked on the lawn.
children come from afar.
grandparents
shuffle in to find
the soft couch.
they smile and pinch
the cheeks of grown
children.
parents
open the window, pull
the chairs around,
make tea.
they ask why things are
the way
they are, then make them
the way they want
them to be.
everyone is hungry,
thirsty and off we go.