The President Of Peppermint

I will vote for the President of peppermint,
the one who can't help but be jolly;
who carols constantly,

makes but never breaks the
evergreen promises.
I will elect him King

of the red and green
of festivities proclaimed or hidden;
of happiness unbidden in all seasons

and snows of the lacelike
softly coming down pure ice cream
on the town.

he will be the one

who favors the Nativity,
the astonishing Star;
who furnishes candy jars

all over the Kingdom
and beams on endless bookshelves
wherever we may dwell

and lets us
keep our Dreams

to ourselves in the summer shade
and drift in the quiet parades
if we want to

mary angela douglas 7 may 2016