Five of us kids waited for the check to come,

the $117 U.S. that fed us all & paid the rent,

Daddy a totally disabled vet & given to tricky nerves.

So another vet saw the easily recognizable check

in the mailbox & nervy took it, & my folks

being passive waited 17 days on faith & flour gravy

with bread & water hoping it would come --

& then gave up & turned for help

& so we got a charity ham & hatred

& a chance to see Goodfellows

where 2,000 children lined up

in pious rows in the cold streets

& waited to be let in

& waited to scramble

when Santa Claus threw hard candy at them.

-- Leslie Palmer