The Gift

by Jan Lalli

Do not place God’s gift

high on the living

room shelf

alone,

away from

young hands—

to go unnoticed

by the tired eyes,

the unaware.

Do not hoard up this gift

nor feast

in silence.

And don’t

tuck it

away

in some safe deposit box.

You,

with your gift

wrapped up inside—

take off

the foiled paper.