Wrapping It Up

i understand

certain people out there

arrange holiday matters

so that a single piece of tape

holds the wrapping paper in place

on each gift box they prepare

(even before they meticulously apply

the ribbons and bows)

i am decidedly

not in that camp

i have no pride in my hereditary lack

of accomplishment in this regard

no metaphor about caring only for what’s inside

no woke disclaimer of being unconcerned

with appearances that glitter

in the season of giving

after clicking through the items

on the buy list that later arrive

in dusty dirty cartons

i kinda wish i could

embellish my beneficence

with a certain voyeuristic flare

a bit of continental savoir faire

i’ve just never

put in the time

or the effort

to figure out how

mostly i hack

with the scissors

lavish on the adhesive

which is fine

i’m usually not in the living room

when the presents are opened

or if i am i sit in a chair

in a corner opposite the tree

patiently marking time

until the giving is over