She makes them just for me,

and her mum, hand crafted

each Yuletide as the decorations

hang

forever in an unspectacular box

on the airing cupboard.

I told her that I loved her Mince Pies,

despite not caring about the day

itself and they were delicious,

however I had once

tasted, just to try,

a shop finished treat

as I slowly warmed myself with a hot chocolate delight

against the cold I felt in my middle age veins;

Her eyes always blue, blazed and narrowed,

I don’t mind what you do in life,

but I will not have you licking

the filling off your lips

off a shop made mince pie.

Ian D. Hall 2017