o little town of bethlehem

around the manager
scene, with
the baby jesus
lying in a bed
of straw
made of string,
and mary
and joseph, the assorted
farm animals
and the three
wise men bearing gifts
your mother would
set up an electric
train set with a small
town surrounding
them. apartment
buildings with
lights within,
a police station
and a water tower
overlooking
the bridges and
mirrored rivers.
she'd put
small smoke pellets
into the stack
as the train
moved around
and around the metal
tracks. then she'd
put on some frank
sinatra and fix
herself a highball
as we stared
at the little town
of bethlehem in
manahattan.