It Came Upon A Charm So Clear

She comes to you crying with her arms
wrapped tight around the antique nutcracker,
and she pleads for you to fix him so
he can fight off the rats and rescue the
Sugar Plum Princess. Your husband groans,
mutters something about the things Muggles
watch in their spare time - he didn’t wish for her
to see Tchaikovsky’s classic. But you smile and
gently wave your wand.

He comes to life, fully repaired, and he bows to
your little girl, who blushes. With confidence, he
jetés across the table, and falls to one knee,
arms outstretched to hold her little hand.
With a giggle, she extends her fingers, and he brushes
his wooden lips onto her tiny knuckles. With a strong frappé,
he leaps to his feet and delivers a pirouette.

She claps excitedly, even after the life
within his eyes becomes a distant echo,
and your holidays are filled with her dancing around
the Christmas tree, the nutcracker tucked safely
into her loving arms. Your husband shakes his head,
but all you can do is smile and yearn for those days
of innocence again.