January First

My friends Michael & Phoebe called me up New Year's Day with a shove: write a sonnet before the end of the day titled "January First" and use the following words: 

feast

mellon

unscrew

umbrella

Old Dan Tucker

pinstripe

lullaby

Somehow I failed to work "umbrella" in there, but here's my attempt (influenced a bit by Gerald Stern, whose latest collection, In Beauty Bright, has been at my bedside all week)

January First

How when family or the flu comes knocking

Humming a tune, say, Old Dan Tucker or Auld Lang Syne,

Pay no never mind. January First comes and wipes its salty

Boots on your stoop, waltzing through with lips puckered,

With visions of clementines, smoked meats, melons,

Pineapples, pinstriped candies, intent on unscrewing

Your last stopper in a reckless holiday rejoinder feast.

But the mugs of cheer have been drained, the pantry laid waste.

What’s a new year but old snow made to look fresh

From wind drifts? Another number to hang on the wall

Or a pink baby to slap on the ass then bed down in a breath

Of lullabies. Nor could you avoid or escape it if you wished.

Take a good-will draught of winter chill. You’re likely hung-over.

Besides, we’ve cleaned the fridge. It’s too late now to get your supper.