The Crooked Christmas Star, '73

star of wonder
star of night
star of royal
beauty bright
westward leading
still proceeding
guide us with
thy perfect light

he brought me a star
he carved out of wood
he stole from my own back yard
uneven unpolished
repainted unfinished
unwrapped and without any card
hey
how do you like the star
he says
we're out havin' dinner that night
terrific i tell him
and how is your kid?
my kid? oh he's doin' all right
do you think you'll get married?
i ask in my worst
artificial rehearsed
type of voice
eat your chop suey
he orders
then answers
she waited too late
and i don't have a choice
star of wonder
star of whim
royal beauty
burning dim

he brought me a star
he carved out of wood
to hang on my xmas tree
uneven unpolished
repainted half-finished
i think it's a portrait of me
we
only made it but one time
y'know
she wanted to get knocked up
she worked it out
with her astrology chart
i let go of my hot coffee cup
and his elbow is scalded
(the embroidered heart
on his sleeve pulls apart
at the seam)
astrology chart
astrology chart
i better laugh quick
either that or i'll scream!

star of wonder
star of woe
ragged beauty
burning low

the spirit of christmas
is something like love
it's hope
but it's mainly mirage
and after the season
the hope has been lost
with the tinsel you've tossed
behind the garage
the empress of china
she laughs when i laugh
we've both played this scene before
hey how is your kid?
and i don't have a choice
and once more
and once more
and once more
i stare at my fork
the empress would grab it
and stand up and stab it
in his neck
he lies and he cheat
and he eats from my plate
and hates himself 'cause
he can't pay the check!

still
there's that star
he stole with his hands
and carved with his heart
for the limb
at the top of my tree
it's a portrait of me
ain't it also a portrait of him?
a saint who's been tainted
repainted rejected
a dead resurrected
crooked star
he's low but he's high
but hell so am i
ain't that why i love him
i love him
i love him
i love him
i love him
i love him
i love him
i love him
i love him?

star of wonder
star of doubt
ragged beauty
burning out...