Christmas

New York City
Lower East Side

For a Christmas tree
we had Cactus Spoons
in a pot on a cloth covered
cardboard box,
and one candle.
Window moon
in the waxed wood floor
tambourines and chimes.

In the morning we received
one red negligee,
one bottle of men’s cologne,
two satin sack hangers,
(to hang our blue jeans on)
and a blizzard
gingerbread tenements
fluffy fire escapes.

Afternoon
bright garbage streets,

sunset
part snow like
breath
with pigeon tracks
and kids.
We wrote Noel
for them
for bone grey men
huddled on doorsteps.
17 December 1976 English 224