Palimpsest

Midtown Manhattan in mid December,
is the ugliest palimpsest ever. Ever.
Be-jewelled, be-furred and be-Barboured barbarians,
wreak hell for their spoils and leave little but carrion.
Amidst the herds of lingering tourists
grazing at the windows of Bergdorf's,
they seem to say,
"a bargain to be had, may be worth the trampled spine,
so long as it is yours-- dear friend, not mine!"