as unlikely as it is
there would be a savior
whose birthday still confuses us
with respect to what gifts to bring
and as unlikely as it is
there would be a jolly man
whose pastime fills volumes
with images of elves and flying reindeer
we stand on the edge of Christmastime
peering into the abyss
asking ourselves who
it would be best to bestow with gifts
wrapped in best intentions and ribbon
and only the wise men among us
think to prepare a gift for the least likely
to be flying through winter's darkness
less likely still to be savior of anything
– including jolly tinsel dreams
unless they encompass all of what might be
and when doing just that, stand on the edge
of that abyss with gift in hand
for what remains unknown
because, as any wise man knows full well,
there just might be dragons
and they might be bringing gifts of their own.
©Adrienne Veronese
Christmas 2018
Dragon and Man Exchange Gifts by Edward Gorey
