kissmas eve

thanks to the hershey folks

even an old mateless man

can get a kiss on christmas eve

.

and he can pour himself christmas cheer

into a lovely goblet of his own making

and with the seagram’s v o in the cupboard

he can toast the spirit of his deceased father

with the spiritous liquor

that was his father’s favorite

.

by now you may be feeling sorry

for this lonely old codger

having been emotionally manipulated

by said codger

but you need not be

all he needs for all the unloneliness he wants

is to get off his fat ass

and go out into the world

call a pal or a gal or a gal pal

and see if a christmas movie is viewable

go to the dive bar across the street

or better yet a coffeehouse

with a cheerful barista

who knows him by name

and ask for the usual

shoot a text to a faraway loved one

or a joke to a nearby old friend

.

but before this old myself does any of this

i’ll have another so delightful kiss

and kiss you, my cherished reader, as well

in a way appropriate to the both of us

and urge you to celebrate in your way

what you find most fittingly celebratory

and i raise my goblet to you

and wish you the best