Christmas in July

it was about this time

of year,

at the end of July 

when i'd get the call

from my mother,

telling me that she just finished

her Christmas shopping.

all of it done

for her seven children,

and fifteen grandchildren,

a few nieces

and nephews and for her

sisters and brothers

in Philadelphia.

i could hear

the rattle of paper,

the ribbons and bows,

the snip of scissors

in her hands, 

and

the tear of scotch tape,

out of breath

but happy, as she

filled the closet with box

after box.

a name tag on each.