[Poet’s Note in Comments Section of Poem ]
two companeros sorting revolutionary literature
in spirit’s gap unwrapping gifts knowing fresh
labour ! sabre cops might have followed us hot
cops never come on Saturdays — they watch rugby* remarks she blithely
work births experience dissolving glib speak
stealthily arrived contingent of state security police stalking
books, pamphlets, writings, ephemera, poems
confiscated not lovingly touched again
never say never self-assured confident
More than a scent, a whisper in the wind,
A call to the senses, deeper than skin.
A lick, a touch, a promise untold,
Of flavors waiting, mysteries to unfold.
A bite, a spark, a fire ignites,
As taste explodes, a symphony of delights.
A chew, a dance, a slow release,
Unwrapping layers brings inner peace.
A swallow, then, a pause, a moment to savor,
The lingering joy, a lingering flavor.
But still, the hunger whispers low,
“More, more,” it calls, and on we go.
For in this seeking, in this constant chase,
Lies the delight, the endless embrace.
Of a world of flavors, ever in bloom,
A journey of taste never comes too soon
Christmas comes calling each year around,
Ringing in joy and celebrations profound
A message of sharing wrapped in delight.
Culminating the year in hopes soft light.
What does Christmas mean to me,
Opens a floodgate of memories.
The snowy beard, the bright red hat,
A jolly belly — imagine that!
From distant lands with mystic aura,
Santa arrives — every child’s euphoria.
Candied fruits,
Orange and cinnamon induced,
Plum cakes so rich,
Ginger and nutmeg enriched.
Pine, fir or spruce,
A woody aroma to boost,
Poinsettias add colour and glam,
Enhancing old terraces charm.
Wreaths and mistletoe on show,
Reindeer and Santa in tow.
Christmas stockings, filled and hung with care,
Unwrapping gifts, joy fills the air.
Candy canes and twinkling lights,
Together they usher in delight.
A time to care, a time to share,
To breathe to life each Christmas prayer.
To pen new tales of love and kindness,
And light the world through winter’s brightness.
The wind is just right
And teases the leaves just so
The warmth from the Styrofoam cup in your hand keeps the chill at bay
You sip the cocoa feeling the marshmallows touch your lips
Your boots click on the concrete and create a rhythm with the crunch of the leaves
The air feels thinner and it's six weeks until Christmas
You feel a twinkle of hope, of ending a year with as much anticipation as a kid waiting for Santa.
Your knit beanie keeps your ears warm and your grateful the weather is not bitter winter
You cozy by the fireplace unwrapping your scarf.
Settling in for conversation and laughter
This is Fall.
Visible
Invisible
Its aura.
Wrapping
And unwrapping me.
Once in a while
Made of electric.
In blue tissue
My fractal flower.
You don’t have to buy the land
to own the changing landscape
Whose vista priceless yours inside
to live in mortgage free
Or fly a rocket toward the sun
to view each day’s horizon
That comes and goes both East and West
in transitory joy
You don’t have to buy a car
to travel to tomorrow
New pathways wait beyond conveyance
old footsteps in the sand
Or buy a boat and sail the seas
to hear the ocean’s roar
The transience of each crashing wave
— a gift unwrapping free
(Ronald McDonald House: August, 2025)
Portal after portal,
I travel immortal,
A soul informal,
A human with morals,
Riding just outside normal.
Entering through an open portal,
Showing more to reach for,
A reason to explore,
Deeper parts of your core.
Stored information waits to be discovered,
I have uncovered you,
Giving a different view,
A way to see through,
What you think you have to do,
Challenging you with something new.
Follow me through the portal,
You are immortal,
And a human with morals,
Creating like normal.
This life your portal,
A formal event,
You are the gift in your present,
Unwrapping every moment.
Opening hearts wherever I went,
Knowing I was heaven sent,
I travel the firmament,
Finding portals opening to the present.
This is no Eden
Yet the mirror is perceived
Lush tangle of undergrowth
Army of bare, crooked trees
Who formed thee in madness
Has blown fetid breath
Stirring twitches and jerks
Necromancer of death
Cold pale face a question
Bride groom of lunacy
A nightmare interpretation
Lucifer's garden fantasy
So still while I attend
Do not dare look away
From the corner of my eye
Creeping quickly to prey
Under skirt of homespun
Limbs crack, dislocate
With swift wind evil runs
pounding hooves of your mate
Turning now in retreat
Though I fear the unknown
I hear your pursuit
Bone clicking on bone
When next time that I brave
Behind me, a quick peek
You both disappear
Becoming one with the trees.
My new purchase in hand
I leave the museum
Unwrapping this art
For the pleasure seeing imparts
Driving home now, heart pounds
As every time I turn around,
The scenery changes to match
the vision through mirrors I catch
Just as in the frame
You seemed to rearrange...
And I know that you now follow me.
Silent nights and silent days
Silver pines of yesterday
Still-celebrating reprise
of rosy cheeks and snowy heights
of treetop angels and brilliant lights
Glowing bulbs and flying sleds
Destiny in dreamy beds
for morrow’s Christmas
is presenting and unwrapping
Springtide memories are clapping
Maybe when I’m making sense of the past
You’ll see my lenses are rose tinted glass
Finding old memories, once locked away
Unwrapping highlights to put on display
Triumphant tales of those former glories
Uniquely retold as old war stories
Regrets will remain, but kept in their place
Each one secure in its own little case
Sitting back, my working life will be done
Enjoying the grandkids, out in the sun
Lucky old me, when at last I’m retired
Fingers crossed then, that I won’t have expired...
The indelible stamp
of my favorite aunt
my birthday gift arrived
seven months late
Yet unwrapping the newspaper
was well worth the wait
Though the fruit cake was moldy ~
The ‘London Times' was first-rate
Unwrapping the Hershey's miniature
semi-sweet dark chocolate
longing for the delicate taste
remembering how the last one tasted
and then
love like chocolate
taste sweet
sticks around
and lingers upon the lips
A time of togetherness
with entire family.
The unwrapping of presents
under Christmas tree.
My father telling stories
about to birth of Jesus.
Christmas Eve trips to the store
accompanying Mom.
My relatives visiting
and I'd join them in singing
popular Christmas carols;
wondrous memories!
Pining for a white Christmas;
sometimes going to movies
or driving around with Dad.
Oh, those were fun times!
Watching biblical epics,
especially "King of Kings."
The first time I saw Santa
I'll never forget!
The dawn of
forgiveness
The death of
old pain
The choice that
releases
The end of
disdain
Unwrapping
tomorrow
Regifted
today
The loneliest
moments
Beyond
—yesterday
(Dreamsleep: June, 2023)
"Nightmares Before Christmas"
Christmas is here
ahead of time
as always
and you are
the song in
my heart
forever
wassailing
more than hallelujahs
with the ghosts
of Christmas Past
unwrapping words
decorations
of the future sparkling
extracted like magic
carols
from a stand alone
music box
nightmares
before Christmas
like snowflakes melt
green grass of home
grows again
after the frost
love and good cheer
wakes naked again
over second take mistakes
worn
warm
as a Reindeer's pelt
smiles then laughs
after all
the wassailing
Christmas,
again,
is eventually felt
(LadyLabyrinth / 2022)
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