A Sea of Faces Passes

A sea of faces passes
along the city streets,
flows past with traces yet
of their emotions etched
in their expressions.

A variegated circus of faces
passes. Some in ecstasy,
some in distress, street crazies,
vignettes...

* * *

Seduced by bourgeois comfort,
no rebel I in my bathrobe
warming the soles of my feet at the fireplace.

What have I done that’s not conceit?
In the hypnotically burning fire,
in the embers, dance little devils.

The storm windows are down in our little cave,
heat wave from the fire on this
bitter cold winter night.