Celebrating the Epiphany

Blue Monday usually falls on the third Monday of every New Year
and is considered the most depressing day on the calendar.

While searching for my emergency supply of pot
I found the tape dispenser I thought I’d lost
when I’d thrown out the scraps
of Christmas wrapping paper.

They were both stuffed in the hollow
wooden post in the old secretary I’d inherited
where my grandfather hid money

from my father. It’s not what you think —
my ancient grandfather could not remember
to pay his own bills so my father took over.

He called my father “The Duke”
for his dominating ways. He had a point.
Those two never told anyone they loved

them, as far as I know. Though there were
no more gifts to wrap, I ripped off
a couple pieces of tape for old time’s sake

and ripped off a few hits
on the old crumbling joint
for the same reason. Everyone has

their own definition of emergency.
I put an I love you
in the secret hiding place.