Outgrowing Santa

Santa never came to our house

he wasn't welcome

we opened humble gifts

of socks, underwear and one game to share

just before midnight

gifts the baby would bring.

I had friends who believed

then saw their faith

in all that is

dashed

when the truth came out

as it always does

around fifth grade.

Some other kids

learned to hoax their parents

into providing wishes unlimited

with cynicism

into sixth grade

those kids carried their dubious gifts

of disenchanted distrust long

after I outgrew

my underwear

several times over.