--

I was trying to be alone, you know,
saturate my senses in the smog of the
newspaper city
embraced
and
enveloped
I let her in
I breathed her in
Staked my claim and planted my feet
I should have brought my own handmade flag to
anchor in those layers of grime and soot.
But she is malleable
fickle
she fought back and
wouldn't budge
I was only hers for a time
She showed me my fears in the
winding, calling darkness
Then spit me out when the last grain fell

and I was ushered like Jonah to Ninevah

with my teeth gritted and my hands tied I fought
but, regardless, here I sit

The great eastern
-in its howling and hollowing
the waves
-in their breaking and mending
I shiver and quake

But, do I do well?
In this restless anger, do I do well?