Joanne comes around with a radio and absinthe
We start the afternoon with Polish Xmas songs on shortwave
She laughs as we burn the first shot, the green flame
I love Joanne
We've been friends for 12 years
We used to be lovers but now a hug can be just a hug
I followed her from Derbyshire to London
She's the sub-librarian, the swan feeder, spectacle breaker
I wanted to buy her a bicycle this Xmas but she said it was too much
She can close me down like I let no-one else do
We watch the green flame in the window and it somehow makes me think of Amsterdam or Paris - rain beneath canal bridges in neon cafe light
The phone rings but it's not for me
The answering machine catches it and holds it and holds it and holds it