Pulled off 31 for a peppermint latte downtown
packed in its ugly sweater vest, cherry everything
from the pie to the toothpaste, tourists ask
me where's the rest of the Midwest. There's
a line of trucks at the donut place,
idling guy in shorts and a full white
out, smiling my aunt's still mad that they
raised the price of fudge. We blame it
on the snow, the snow don't budge. It's
a big snow. Small town Christmas up in
Traverse City, turn the lights on. Hey, got
the big half frozen. Cars are sideways, and
in a Subaru sliding all the way in.
Big snow. Small town Christmas from Krakowska out
to Petalski Glow. If you can't find the
party, check the Meyer parking lot, because that's
how Northern Michigan rolls.
Grandma knit me socks in central colors, says
wear them all, you're walking home from church.
Uncle bought a six pack labeled summer something
we drink it anyway, pretend it doesn't hurt.
Share if I cut in the hot coco,
steaming, talking big We've
got snow days, slow plows, bonfires in the
backyard now. Carol slightly
out of Keigo Lions on the count of
three. One mitten
lost boot Christmas tree strapped to the Subaru.
If the world looks weird and pretty,
you're probably in traverse
We
got snow days, slow plows, bonfires
in the backyard now, carols slightly
out, he go lions
on the count of three old men and
lost
food Christmas trees strapped to the Subaru roof
If the world looks weird and pretty,
you probably am
Trevor City.
Snowbank's
taller
than my uncle Tim.
I lost my car
to a powder rim.
Tried to find Front Street,
took a wrong turn,
ended up ice fishing
next to a taco bird.
Christmas
up in Traverse City,
cherry wine and ugly sweaters that don't fit
me, but Thomas key stones in a dollar
store stocking. Grandma's
Subaru in the ditch still rocking. Christmas
up in Traverse City.
Oh, my.
Santa snowed in at the Cherry Festival
sign.
Small Santa's beer
smells like pasties.
Kids all sticky from fudge and taffy.
Reindeer park by the broody door. Santa's check
in' his list
on a sample for Christmas up in Traverse
City.
Cherry white and ugly sweaters that don't fit
me. Tylerski stones in the dollar store stocking.
Grandma's Subaru in the ditch still rockin'.
Uncle Yell go lions
like they can hear him through the flurries.
And saying, take him 72
like that solves all my worries.
Cousins arguing which leg is best
while the power lines all
I'm just trying to microwave
last year's fruitcake
rum.