These days of chalk on sandwich boards
been drinking all night long
Snow is piling up like dinosaurs
No dreams of Babylon skies anymore
Here, the Choir Belles, they’re picking up speed.
So won’t you stay awhile
with your spice teas and your gold teeth,
with pockets full of incense—
laying down ain’t no relief
there’s something wrong here
when the corner boys start singing Christmas songs.
Hold on!
Split the lighter from the spoon—
Hold on!
Your star is over the moon—
Hold on!
Reach for them North End Lights,
and hold on!
Hold!
Let’s take the Fast Track back
past the Crystals and the Black Queens
cashing paychecks at the groceries
keeping pockets full of miracles alive here
on these streets where only poetry comes clean.
Hear gunshots down the block,
they backfire Behind the Rocks—
things are burning up on Barbour Street—
while the administration pleads,
“Let’s get along here…”
And St. Francis belts “Ave Maria!”
Hold on!
Split the lighter from the spoon—
Hold on!
Your star is over the moon—
Hold on!
Looks like them Fairfield Ave. Girls—
they moved on like angels—
still they hold—
they hold on!
Hold on!
One day they’ll hammer, then they’ll nail you.
Hold on!
Let’s pray this light never fails you.
Hold on!
Still wrappin’ China Dolls—
Hold on!
Hold!
I’ll just be home a while—
to see our baby child.
Don’t leave me holding on—
the line.