Christmas poem

Christmas Poem

By shop entrance, in a quiet street, that still emitted
Warmth from a busy day, he stood; he wasn’t cold
The Salvation Army had given him a big coat and
Solid boots; snow had fallen and street lamps lit this
Christmas Eve and there was peace over the land.

He unscrewed the cork of a bottle of strong spirit,
Drank and lit a cigarette, at the hostel there was a bed
Waiting for him and food, but he didn’t want to go
There now, meeting other losers, men who had lost
It all he didn’t want to see ruined lives tonight.

The purity of snow, he drank some more spilt some
On his coat, the glow of his cigarette touch it and
A blue flame began eating into his coat, he struggled
To get it off; spilt more spirit, a human torch. A child
Looked out and wondered what it was.