All I want

to wrap before Christmas

are my thoughts around

the present

and how it does not 

have to be adorned

with lights and

mistletoe is not

needed for me

to want to kiss you

in the cold white darkness

of that winter’s night 

when Santa

runs himself ragged

fulfilling his 

FedEx-like magic 

trying to please

the precious little ones

who believe in him

enough to leave

him cookies 

of innocence

before the 

crackling fire

of truth

burns

their letters 

to the North Pole

to embers

— Ivan Jenson