Weary and dejected,
He arrived on the city streets
In the darkness
Of a winter's night

In the trash can of an alley
That was owned by a big
Orange-striped cat,
He found a candle stump
That was no doubt replaced
By that flickering banana
In the window above

His teeth were dancing
To the beat of his knees
Slapping each other
As his breath
Created a fog that
Camouflaged the
Ragged orange fury
Howling on the fire escape

So he found a match
And, striking it,
Shone his eyes on a
Gray furry she-cat
Who was hiding
Behind the trash

His hands hovered above
The burning light of life
As the two shadows on
The fire escape
Warmed each other
To a melody
Of howls and screeches

They found him
In the morning
Near a splotch
Of burned wax,
His hands wrapped
Around his face
And a gray cat
Under his coat.