Holiday Conflict

You lack holiday cheer and warmth in your smile.
We argue over what pleases us and what is worthwhile.
I start to wonder and worry over what will not be
and ponder what presents I’ll put under the tree.
There’s neither joy in your gait nor love in your words.
Each time that I read them I’m torn with remorse,
but no matter my feelings, yours do not change,
and I can only but pray that they change with your age.
I bake peppermint candy and deck the house in fudge,
both pleased with my efforts and torn by your grudge
against everything that seems to make me sublime
until I too find no pleasure in the joy of the time.
I hope that in this season before the new year,
you will find an abundance of holiday cheer,
because it isn’t quite fair for you to be down
when the whole world is waiting for New Year’s new sound.