An Oz-fest Christmas.

An Oz-fest Christmas.

Just before midnight

The air is liquified

Brains are flash-fried

The heat is never-ending

The honchos in black

Open-necked suits

Awash with sweat

Cavorting like juveniles.

The reek of drink and cigarettes

Drifts

Slowly across the street

As heavy as a deflated ego

Pungent with toxins

Acid rain is no worse.

Jokes are recycled

With every deep breath

The laughter

Carried across the rooftops

Pushing against the curtains

Of sleepy houses

The pounding of music

The vibration of an Aussie Xmas

The shimmer of optimism

Giving way to dirty sex

In dark alleys

Behind Victorian brownstones

There is a dearth of good sense

White lines crossed

In quick succession

As bloody noses

And broken septums

Are exchanged for the price

Of a Secret Santa.

An office romance

And other mistakes

Spill out into the street

Where

Deadbeats in yesterday’s clothes

Salvation Army clad

Vagabonds

Look on in horror

As pretty young things

Parade

In a drunken escapade

Guilt-free

Until tomorrow