'Give me some light!' cries Hamlet's br uncle midway through the murder br of Gonzago. 'Light! Light!' cry scattering br courtesans. Here, as in Denmark, br it's dark at four, and even the moon br shines with only half a heart. br br br The ornaments go down into the box: br the silver spaniel, My Darling br on its collar, from Mother's childhood br in Illinois; the balsa jumping jack br my brother and I fought over, br pulling limb from limb. Mother br drew it together again with thread br while I watched, feeling depraved br at the age of ten. br br br With something more than caution br I handle them, and the lights, with their br tin star-shaped reflectors, brought along br from house to house, their pasteboard br toy suitcases increasingly flimsy. br Tick, tick, the desiccated needles drop. br br br By suppertime all that remains is the scent br of balsam fir. If it's darkness br we're having, let it be extravagant.