The sun shines down upon the cold street

to give halos of white light

to everyone sitting at the outside tables of the taverns

eating the food just bought from the market

as the organ grinder grinds

in the middle of the small cobbled street

initiating a chorus with the tavern patrons

who release plumes of white cigarette smoke from their smiles as they sing along

“la bohème”

and a fiddle

hiding in one of the taverns

joins in to play a few bars.