loneliness at 1:30…
a jar of Cafe Bustelo instant coffee…
heat comes through the windows…
bare walls…
voices inside a head…

small lamps giving-off light…
a Ted Hughes book of poetry…
the story of Tom Joad…
squared wooden nightstand…
blankets wadded-up in a ball…

sweat stains on a $50 pilllow…
the girl that got away…
tea cups with pictures of hamlets…
a brown ottoman…
this keyboard pounded-on…

white blinds opened to a black night…
porch lights on…
church on the corner…
wooden fire-escapes…
gunshots going-off…

dirty clothes in a bin…
cigarette smoke through the vents…
this desk i write-on…
keys to a car that will soon be gone…
silver for bus fare…pennies for…pennies for…

a book-bag carrying Moby Dick…
clothes folded somewhat…
copper mugs…
a pen from a gym i don’t go-to…
limp phone chargers…

corkscrew…bottle-opener…
a suicide prevention magnet…
an empty fridge…
street lights flicker
a Padre Pio medallion…

loneliness at 1:30…
a jar of Cafe Bustelo instant coffee…
heat comes through the windows…
bare walls…
voices inside a head…

a clock that doesn’t tick…