A Chance Encounter

and so this is Christmas
wrapped up in cinnamon dreams
under Rioja haze

and an eiderdown cocoon
red ribbon kimono belt sealed
and signed with a promise
of tomorrows

and so

this is Christmas
and what have we really done
other than reach out and brush by
another set
of trembling fingertips
when we lingered tipsy

just outside the circle
of the others' homely fire

and sang a carol of our own instead
gazed upwards
to see no betlehem's star
but indeed a million milky others

that others try as they might
to plaster plastic to their
indoor universe

there are stars
in the lines of her palm

they landed when she beckoned
and gently closed her fist

now scattered across the room
with the rest of the

gift
wrapping

glowing in the corners
they keep us company
and wait for the sun

and so this
is Christmas

on idle breath
in candle lit air
blood red lips
raven black hair
and under those lids
glacier twin embers
almost cyan
hibernate

sleep now
questions too basic to utter
will linger unspoken
to be collected and released
with the scattered stars
we captured
come morning

so this is Christmas I guess
one like never before
a gift bestowed
a riddle yet
to solve