Joanne comes around with a radio and absinthe We start the afternoon with polish xmas songs on shortwave She laughs as we burn the first shot, the green flame I love joanne We've been friends for 12 years We used to be lovers but now a hug can be just a hug I followed her from derbyshire to london She's the sub-librarian, the swan feeder, spectacle breaker I wanted to buy her a bicycle this xmas but she said it was too much She can close me down like i let no-one else do We watch the green flame in the window And it somehow makes me think of Amsterdam or Paris Rain beneath canal bridges in neon cafe light The phone rings but it's not for me The answering machine catches it and holds it and holds it and holds it