a legion of lost lone men stumble
dazed and confused from one shop to another
as a homeless man huddled
in a doorway strokes his dog.
I wonder what unseen scars lie inside,
he's invisible to shoppers who stride
as he watches children skip, their eyes
such a contrast to his own.
A seagull picks scraps outside Burger King
under a sky as grey as the castle walls,
the reindeers not yet illuminated,
St John's Church a reminder of the birth
of the greatest figure who walked the earth.
I observe from inside Caffe Nero's,
many passers-by are glued
to their mobiles, some laden with presents.
I reflect on all those who've strolled
these city streets who wander no more,
people who are the ghosts of Christmas past
for life is precious...but nothing can last.