In a New Place

 In a New Place

Snailing our way through 
the ashtray with a chip 
on our shoulder: I have 
to shout over the shrill
and the cat nearly collapses.  

Enormous, useless trucks
burn by outside in the false
alarm summer and teetering 
autumn night; and day: open
morning windows, shuffle books
and mugs of pens around. Plato

hits the floor with a bright bruise
on his cheek. Up the volume, shut
the stove, drink the newspaper with 
coffee: Multi-Region Breakfast Blend. 
Leg taps its nervous paranoia before work 
in a sterile, obtuse town with severe strangers.