CATHY MILLER

★ ★ ★ ★

POETRY

Dance A Christmas Morning

…the dancing bear that follow him around
he lifts his big foot up he puts his big foot down
and bows and twirls and dances ‘round and ‘round…
                           —the Mamas and the Papas

i

If at evening cold
you see the fires
it be our gypsies
come on river ice

with starlight and moon
in the bitter hours of Christmas eve
they tie soft boughs
of fresh sweet pine
for our manger
we share a pot of tea  
a slice of cake  
I take a cookie 
to the old dancing bear—
he can no longer

ii

As dark river stars 
dim gilt and silvered sky
their wagons gone in
ruts of sooty snow
before I wake—   

dance we now Merry Christmas! 
to the morning  
the Christ baby
and the old bear—
who can no longer