Christmas Smoke

My family sings their carols inside round the fire
While out on the porch I burn away
Burn away at my cigarette,
Burn away at the thoughts in my head

And I used to sing as well
And I wonder at those that still do
Whether they are blind to the things that I see
Whether they know the things that I do

I live for the outside now, front porches and cigarettes
Moonlight on a frozen pond and crickets in the reeds
Smoke rising round my fingertips
And flames inside every time that I breathe

Because really, you see, I'm on fire
And I burn burn burn
Like a Christmas tree engulfed, its flames
More brilliant than any lights could be

A natural reaction in this outer wilderness

My family sings their carols inside round the fire
While out on the porch I burn