CHRISTMAS ON A STREET - PRESENT TO THE WORLD

(The beauty of this poem is a present to the world)

Christmas on a Street

By Yemi Soneye (c)

A girl holding herself out of the window
like a doll to be tossed

and no one caring if
she throws it all down.

Other girls in the room distant
as cold ashes from fire

taken by the filigreeing
of their nails for the service

and hiding of their faces
behind beauty and eyeliners.

A fireman.
It’s dark in his world

he’s been wracked by the hours
and is trudging to bed.

But still a Merry Christmas
he hurls up

to stagger
back into the room

the girl
and shut the window.