to spark the story funny cards are best
that reindeer's bushy ******** and his backward grin
makes each of us a burly teamster Santa
but best of all, the irony of ass-end-joy
makes this the perfect millennial American Greeting
to plunk down the Wal-Mart buck-fifty for
alas, the real juice of narrative's left at the store
the all-night mind spins out its setting
action arch of dialogue to dénouement
then lost in the well-stocked silence of stuff
somewhere in those reels, maybe a better person
crafts hearts breaking open to a generous life
and emerges from those screenings joyful—
grateful for the chance to evolve from the self-serving
multitude of errors sporting masks
posts gentle merry wishes and even ribald humor
to that impossible God-blessed everyone