Wait,
Take a second
Taste.

Red and white
Candy cane stripes
Chocolate
White, milk and dark
Eggnog, cider
Steaming hot cocoa,
Gingerbread cookies
Marshmallows, pie
Stomach filled to capacity.

Wait,
Take a second
Breathe.

The pine filled air
Seeps in my noise
Irritates the hairs
It mixes with the chimney smoke
It suffocates
I start to choke
I love it

Wait,
Take a second
Listen.

Children crying
Begging
Pleading
Carols sung
And people singing
Harmony and melody say
“Jingle bells, jingle bells”
Sing with me
You know it well.

Wait,
Take a second
Feel.

The prickling pinching
Pine needles
That wears away at my fingers
The crunching crinkle of the paper
Wrapped around my gifts
Solid snow turned liquid
Underneath the warmth of my skin

Wait,
Take a second
Watch.

The snowman building
Snow-angel making
Gift-wrapping
Gift opening
Stocking hanging
Fire burning
Mouths smiling,
Laughing, chewing
Trees lighting
Popcorn stringing
Life, in its best form.

Wait,
Take a second
Taste
Breath
Listen
Feel
Watch

Experience.