The Big Untidy Magazine

JANUARY 1st

Happy new year,
that's what we said to each other
as we hugged on the bridge.
Fireworks exploding
around us.

We thought we'd be alone there.
How wrong could we be?
But the company was alright.

People just like us,
bottle of sekt in one hand,
raised glass in the other.

On January 1st
the streets are full of debris.

Crash-landed rockets
and the rain-sodden mush
of burnt packaging.

Broken glass and dog shit.
We go food shopping at Uli's
(one of the few places open today)
and stop off at an internet cafe
to check our mail
and drink a cappuccino.

The streets near the Ku'Damm
are filled with people
(looking so different to the usual crowds).

Who are they?

Where are they going?

All dressed up in their winter finest,
they can only be seen
on this day each year.

- Clive Product.