Morning Memory

Twitched awake into solid dark.

Up, out, and accompanied by the translucent

yellow glow of the streetlamps.

Passed through one light ring to the next

only the rickety vibration of the engine

to remind the eyes awake.

Park, pull the key out.

schu schu

schu schu

of the shoes

against the pavement. A slow sulk, shoulders

hung. More tungsten light rings,

1

2

3

Into an overhead fluorescence that burns

and a plunge into a loud blue

that stings against the skin.

No. Not anymore. Steady,

slide the silk eye mask back down

and allow the blue waves to engulf me

only as a memory.