CHRISTMAS POMES From The Captain 

via the most excellent Beefheart.com

A Christmas Card from Don Van Vliet

The Ocean

Gave me Oysters

The People Watching it

Gave Me Ulcers

When the Ocean

is Wounded

it Takes the

Whole World to Heal.

A Tin Peened Reindeer - Don Van Vliet

A tin peened reindeer
Metalically hoofed on glass
Scorched cotton snowmen edged the corners
Flesh coloured powder mountains
Yellow lights melts cobwebbed articles
Vague wire tunnels resembling
Peeled flesh caterpillers
Housing very tiny red Christmas tree lights
The Nativity scene
Re-enacted in Ivory soap
A bone shade from age complete
With tiny straw manger
The Christ child its face replaced by an elephant’s head
Intricate lace cups each ear and bands the trunk

(1987)