You found the perfect something, wrapped it up with care
Practiced your casual face for when they open it right there
Do you watch them closely, reading every flicker?
Or stare into the middle distance, hoping it goes quicker?
You thrust it at them sideways, make eye contact with the floor
You've been dreading this exact moment since approximately August 4th
God or gremlin? How's the giving going?
Are you gracious and warm or is the awkward showing?
Did you choose it with intention or just hope for the best?
Are you present for the moment or just waiting for the rest?
God or gremlin? Which one are you today?
Gift giving's basically theatre and nobody knows their lines anyway
They're opening it slowly, you're performing calm
Inside you're catastrophising, outside: zen and warm
They say "oh wow" — but which "oh wow" was that?
The genuine delighted one or the diplomatic flat?
And now it's your turn, brace yourself, it's coming
Arrange the grateful features, keep the real ones from running
God or gremlin? How's the receiving?
Do you mean what your face says or is it just achieving?
Have you got a script prepared for when it misses the mark?
"I love it" said convincingly while dying in the dark?
God or gremlin? Be honest if you can—
Did you accidentally say "interesting?" That wasn't in the plan
Somewhere in a drawer
There's a post-it with a name
"FROM CAROL. NOT FOR CAROL."
You learned that to your shame
Because last year in the chaos
You gave it back to her
The silence in that living room
Is something you prefer not to refer to
God or gremlin? Both are just fine
The thinking counts more than the perfectly chosen find
Whether thrust at someone sideways or presented like a king
It's the fact that you remembered
That's actually the whole thing
From Carol
Not for Carol
You know what you did