mistletoe pearls await their hour
and warmly shiver above the yule log’s flame
green holly leaves
carefully placed yellow spears
hope for hapless flesh
in search of blood
the ivy swag
its tortuous path
waymarked by bundled cinnamon
and clove-pricked orange
a strange perfume
advent tallow smoulders
newly snuffed
impatient for tomorrow’s flame
all in all, a heady brew
© Graham Sherwood 12/2018
grahamrichardsherwood.co.uk 