4: “hallucinations”
30 days/poetry
the flash is out — leather coat draped over cocaine
chair and she is sideways, I imagine Big Grand Things
Happening — the highway outside is hand-rolled and loud,
grit in the sky keeps the fear Close & nice, slang music rolled
out the radio, teenage summer was three going on four summers
ago licking areolas at the city pool red sweat-suit that she threw
at the door said get out I have homework! bad kid you’ll never
make it; now it’s all low and chill and
I think — come on, take it off my finger, and
play me, I see us Afterparty and someone’s cousin’s place,
the cousin on the floor: one hand cig, shrimp hors d’oeuvre wilting,
one hand mahjong board, old agent-approved manicure
she says winnie promised he’ll find me a job this damn
mulched-out, speed-gold city, falling away
in front — of us, cars going fast into the sign you can hear
it all from the hotel room, shaking with the train, grizzly
brown carpet with stains. smoking on the bed and the
sheets feel like those plastic cases put over
dry-cleaner clothes; she says I came here to make it and
goddammit it’s not too late yet
the last pavilion 