The Perfection of Christmas Cookies

The sweetest part

Of Christmas

Is

The perfection of Christmas cookies.

The aroma of baking

Perfumes the air:

Cinnamon,

Nutmeg and Allspice,

Peanut butter,

Molasses,

Brown sugar and butter.

And, of course,

The King of all fragrances,

Chocolate.

The magical transformation

Enchants me.

I take simple things -

Flour, sugar, vanilla,

Butter and eggs -

And stir them into

A creamy mound

Studded with spices

And chocolate.

Spoonful by spoonful

I scoop up the dough

And carefully

Space

The blobs

Out

On the cookie sheets.

The magic happens

In the oven.

I watch,

Entranced,

Through the window

In the oven door.

The dough-blobs

Transform,

Melting,

Spreading,

Rising,

Turning golden-brown

Before my eyes.

Fanciful designs

Of Spritz cookies

Sparkling with colored sugars.

Cookie-cutter-cookies

Crisply cut

Into

Hearts and wreaths,

Teddy bears and reindeer,

Snowmen and Santas,

And Christmas Seals.

Gingerbread boys and girls

And bears

And tiny houses.

The house is filled

With the warm, comforting scent

Of baking cookies.

The Perfection

Of Christmas cookies.