1. The vertical and the horizontal extend out
to plain forever. The trees are dripping
leavings over unknown lives.
Collateral outfits crowd the gutters.
Last night’s bar bottles glisten in the street.

Coarse recourse & cheap sh*t talk
scatters the mom & pop grocery dirge.
We’re smoking & looking for options,
glassy-eyed, sun-blind, off course again.
Still pumping the stuff, waiting for enough.

2. Columns wake morning light stays
aspiring delivers sight caught rays
engulfs drains rashers part senses
glow listing strains fringe fences

as throws tilt amidst carnage doze
slows leeward bulks turns frees silt
raining, gathering, ameliorates lilt
sums, as the quiet after morning storm hums