Christmas a passion play

a retired boxer
who threw his 
fights drunkenly 

staggers onto the
street the choir 
singing The First Noel

Santa’s collecting 
money the actress 
strolls by wearing 

her painted stage
face just outside 
the bar where the 

political speech 
writer lights a 
cigarette the boxer

has a heart attack
the actress stands 
in the spotlight of 

the street lamp the
speech writer declares
He’s dead—the actress

laments Good Lord! 
the choir sings O Little 
Town Of Bethlehem