Linda Studley

Elephants at Christmas

Do not peek into bags and boxes.
Do not walk in unannounced.
When Christmas secrets lurk in closets
courteous circumspection counts.

If I ask quite innocently
“What is that behind your back?”
you must tell me quite sincerely
“It’s an elephant in a sack.”

Christmas elephants decked in paper,
ribbons, bows, and ‘to/from’ tags.
Christmas elephants languishing
in colourful boxes, shiny bags.

So keep your speculation checked.
Curb your curiosity.
until the twenty fifth comes ‘round
when all the elephants can run free.

#156