Merry Christmas

I want to wish you Merry Christmas

but an open word’s an invitation,

and if I know you as well as I let on

you would swallow the anticipation

with a warm mug of scorn.

I want to wish you a Merry Christmas

but the ghosts of Christmas past

warn me, remind me of days gone by

and the safety here, by contrast,

is a world of boundless sky.

I want to wish you Merry Christmas

but it’s just an empty sentiment,

with no activity inside it

to expose this peace to the detriment

of your insights, malicious and misguided.

I want to wish you Merry Christmas,

but I won’t.