Miser Magazine VIII

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Bitter

Freezing today,

21, 22, blowing snow

when the fire alarm went off.

We all evacuated, many

without coats and hats,

some in shirtsleeves.

We stood along Middle Ave.

waiting.  One girl showed us

her frozen hair, while others

compared the shades of blue

their hands had turned.

Some bounced.  Others

held each other close

out of necessity.

There are all sorts of students

at this school, but nothing

brings people together

like the collective outrage

over a bitter day, and the

bitter response 

to a malfunctioning

fire suppression system.

This Christmas We Will Discuss Politics and Religion.

Embracing the season's sense of charity,

overwhelmed by the subtle artistic quality

of evening snow on Christmas lights,

and the beautiful economic politics

of a robed man from Argentina,

I took a sip of coffee and quietly considered

a return to the church of my childhood

before deciding simply to remain a leftist.