The Gift

Reading poetry is like unwrapping a gift.

It can be obnoxiously wrapped in newspaper, taking hours to peel back each layer

Or it can be so beautiful that you just want to sit and stare at its creative covering—going no deeper than the surface.

The gift can be full of thought, making the receiver its true beneficiary

Or it can be more an expression of the giver—never intended to elicit a response from others.

It can be something you keep for generations, passing down its wisdom to those you love,

And it can be something you pass on as an inside joke, bringing with it knowing laughter and meaningful connections.

It can also be a gift that is readily discarded, its purpose never understood.

It can be popular with the masses

Or like, Steve Urkel fashion plates, it can be 'all wrong' on a multitude of levels.

Poetry is not one-size-fits-all

Because what many love, some may abhor.

Nevertheless, it is still a gift.