#7

July 13th, 2011

boys larger than the sunset's magnitude of shadow
clear dust and gravel along the pavement,
playfully creating storms of pale grit
carried lazily by the small afternoon breeze

but they are mindful of me
buried under my mismatched layers
of old press board and tobacco leaves
in the earth, sending up smoke signals as i watch

with worn glassy eyes thin golden arms
laced with blue veins, and recall jackets
sinking slowly into filthy puddles of water,
soaking up an entire day and turning from

black to brown, wondering if a day was just
twenty-four long hours, condensed to a puddle
on a downtown street in autumn, lights turning red,
and tiny feet carrying me into tomorrow.


-

SJ