Warm Cinnamon Love

Little tow headed boy at the
Front picture window of his
Big house
Watches the rain
Waits for daddy to come home
Any minute now
Mama said
The tree is all pretty
Jingle bells plays on the radio
Tonight’s a special night
Mama hustles around the kitchen
Making cookies the
Whole world smells of
Warm cinnamon love
Tonight a good night
Christmas Eve
The night Santa
Comes down the chimney with toys
‘Cause he’s been a good boy
He knows
Mama told him so
And when daddy gets home
After big dinner
He can open one present
Just one
But anyone he wants
That’s what mama said
He holds the present now
Chosen after careful consideration
Holds it in his tiny hands
Pink pudgy fingers play across foil
Twist ribbon
Test prod pull

***

Peel crinkle check
Gnarled old hands
Dirty nail torn fingers
Strip away greasy wadded paper
To find reward
Half a big Mac and
Ten flaccid fries
Gathering blanket around his shoulders
Sits next to the cans
His whole world smells of
Old wet wool
Colored splotches of shimmering light
Mix on the pavement at his feet
He chews his burger slowly
Across the street
A well lit house
Through the big picture window
Twinkle lights dance in a tree
It is Christmas after all
And the face of a boy
Who sits watching the rain
Fall in soft drifting sheets
Wears the smile of innocent dreams
Even the fries taste good
Finished he
Takes the stained wax paper and with
Fat knuckled fingers
Fold crease smoothes

***

Jab tear shake
New fumble fingers
Continue to explore the box
The almighty box
A stuttering man
Sings on the radio about a white Christmas
The boy had never seen snow but
He likes the rain just fine
Across the street
Another man who
Does not sing
Sits on the curb
Next to the neighbors trash cans
Like a pile of moldy blankets waiting to be taken away
That’s what the boy thought at first
A pile of old blankets to
Go out with the garbage then
The blankets had moved
The boy had been scared until
He saw that it was just a bum
Just another old bum that’s what daddy says
Old bum was in the rain
And the boy thinks it would be
Good to let old bum come inside
It is Christmas after all
And it pays to be good
Mama he calls out
There’s a man
Out in the rain
Mama stops humming
Says come away from the window
That man could be dangerous
Come into the kitchen
The cookies are done
The boy watches the man a moment longer
Then follows the lure of fresh cookies
There are lots of presents
Under the tree
Mama’s back humming in the kitchen
His whole world smells of
Warm cinnamon love
So he figures
He’s been good enough this year