Christmas Eve, Salinas

(Capricorn, Winter Crawls out of its Hole)

Front yards with Santa
Hanging in effigy--
I'm back in town.
I'm back in town.
"Hey, aren't you Richie's father?"
"Yeah." "Well, tell him hi.
Alan. From down the street."
I'm back in town.
I'm back in town.
Ghosts sitting behind windows.
Ghosts in lawns. Ghosts in
Pavement. I'm back in town.
I'm back in town.
A cutting wind blows.
Christmas lights swirl
Above the din of
Freeway neon
And emptiness.
I'm back in town. I'm
Back in town.
Snowmen abound, but
Only on cardboard.
They're haunting me.
I'm back in town.
As I cross every street
And dogs bark behind fences.
I'm back in town.
I'm back in town.


© Alan Reade, 2001