around the tree
the mother puts
down
each gift

in a box
wrapped in satin glossy red paper
a toy gun
batteries sold separately
in another
a plastic race car track
assembly required
and a third box
of tiny aluminum cars
that will never function
as well as the boy’s imagination

the little girl
who knows nothing but sweetness
and intelligence
opens a box, wrapped in soft white tissue,
of new doll clothes
made from whispers of cotton
finely manufactured beauty
her other gifts
a doll’s house, a toy record player,
a pair of faux wool mittens

dad, silently
without acknowledging
he has dreams
without thinking
he has desires
thanks the children
for a new screwdriver
and thick socks

mom, in her absolute role as
the center of all the
Love possible
in the universe
smiles
there is a purple glass figurine of an elephant
the boy bought
with his own dollar  
from a yard sale
a paper card
in the shape of a heart
with stick figure snowflakes  
drawn on in pencil
from the girl
and earrings
of gold and diamond––
love Hank
*          *         *
without a smile
no day of love
trading her beauty and intelligence
the sweet function of imagination
for manufacturing and assembly
today for a dollar

an 8-year-old Chinese girl wakes up
puts on an old khaki tunic, black slacks,
paper shoes
and goes to work