I take the old year
off the wall
and throw away
all the days
I didn't use
cold night
my neighbor's dog
still shouting
Happy New Year
to an empty world
passed out
on the curb
naked Christmas tree
New Year's moon
three sheets
to the wind
after our first date
the Old Year and I
both say we'll call
(but
we never do)
this restless old year
who runs off chasing a squirrel
and never comes back
the new year sets sail
all deck chairs
no lifeboats
Christmas day
a tired old man with a white beard
heads home
side of the mountain
a million Christmas trees
waiting for stars
bus stop
Christmas gets off
singing
you are the switch
that turns on
all the Christmas lights
and some
of the stars
I listen
to sleigh bells
hanging on a nail
eggnog
my aunt's mustache
changes color
maybe it's me --
all the sparrows
singing Christmas carols
Christmas lights
blinking
in the cat's eyes
sunbeam
puts the angel
on top of the tree
two cardinals
picking out
a Christmas tree
snow clouds
I get an early Christmas card
from the sky
in the attic
a large cardboard box
filled
with ghosts
of Christmas past