11.8

he arrived on a bicycle, wool

hat, scarf wrapped, and we

shared coffee.

santa without elves anymore,

a life of jolly business overrun

by the mistakes.

and then he found Jesus, or Jesus

found him. so he is not dead

or homeless.

reaching out to others who’ve

hit the down, while he scrambles

and prays and thinks of plans

corn flakes for food banks, meditation

books for friends in jail, new

families at church.

santa without the elves. a mixed bag

of tricks upon his shoulder. he used

to build railroads.

buddy can you spare

a dime?

———————-