Hot Chocolate

In microwaved cups,
on the stove by the potful,
sipping chocolate from Trader Joe's,
instant no-sugar-added or made from scratch,
stirring the sugar and milk and fruit
of theobroma cacao,
drink of ancient people, tribute, energizer.
Dolloped with real whipped cream
or what passes for it as it shoots from the can,
sprinkled with cinnamon,
a shot of Kahlua on a cold winter's night
if your church lets you get away with that,
marshmallows swimming in a sweet pool of brown.
Caffeine's dialed down a notch,
but flavor's a step ahead.
What other drink makes us kids again so easily,
foamy mustaches sitting on a grin?
Hot cocoa or hot chocolate,
Hershey, Nestle, Ghiradelli,
Cadbury and all things Dutch,
I bow to your greatness,
drinking to my health and yours.



(c) Ellen Gillette, 2012