The Scent from a Cupboard
breathes out what you were
& were not —
myrrh & the hanging
music of smoke
pine laced with tinsel laced with lead
(memory of the Magi
warned by their dreams)
Hands petting you beneath
the Christmas tree
as you pretended
as they pretended
the whole house shut down for the night
& you lying under that raveled light —
were never asleep