Episode One

Waking in time, he slowly begins to flex
His toes, checks his knockoff German Timex,
Its rigid vertical clearly signaling sechs,
Unfolds to his feet like an antelope or ibex

Lying in shade to escape the sun at its apex,
Looks down at bottles of Beck’s with jagged necks,
Some empty cans of Jumex, battered tape decks,
A plastic spider, once octapod, now hex-,

Prescription bottles, a Keflex and two Zyrtecs,
A dusty purple rolodex, lime green latex
Unisex catsuit, lengthy notes from hurt ex-
Lovers, multiplex stubs, half a Playtex

Bra, a pamphlet on the Olmecs, shredded Gore-tex
Coats, a faded flag (Quebec’s)—all wrecks,
Like ancient vessels dashed by an unseen vortex,
Washed up near City Hall with our hero, X.

[6:00 / waking / aubade / toes / City Hall]