Singin’ and swingin’ and gettin’ merry like Christmas.
—Maya Angelou

They are makin’ merry, those ladies harmonizing
in the California statehouse, singin’ and swingin’,

jingle bell rockin’, winter wonderlanding and
hearing the angels sing for twenty-five years

in the rotunda to let their voices float high
into the dome—my mama in the front row,

this year rockin’ a zippy walker-with-seat.
Not that she needs it, mind you, but it does

make things easier, she’ll allow, walking from
the parking garage across L Street, into

the north entrance to the Capitol, then
standing for a good hour in silver and red

sequins, gettin’ listeners into the spirit
of the season—not least me, humming along,

capturing this sweet moment of my mama
so happy, makin’ music with her friends,

ho, ho, ho, hallelujah, and to all a good night.