Christmas in the City

The fire was lit,
As they all huddled around,
While carols they sang,
A truly wonderful sound.

And while they sang,
They took utmost care,
To clean up their home,
And make it quite fair.


Then by the fire,
They opened their gifts.
One at a time,
As if working by shifts.

Socks for Joe,
A hat for Rudy,
New shoes for Sue,
And a scarf for Judy.

Then one by one,
They left in a line,
Off to the soup kitchen,
Leaving their fire-barrel behind.

And the spirit of Christmas,
Could be felt that very day,
Not from the great mansions,
But from that old alleyway.