City not so far away.

leaves rattle, trash scurries under cars, into curb corners, against
chainlink fences. plastic bags chase aluminum cans chasing discarded
cigarettes, still smoldering. the thought of Heat occurs to me, and i
laugh, in this place; the thought of life, and i sigh.
straight dark building faces grimace, straining to self-sustain, they
are tired of holding up so much weight, so many people complacent in
their footing, taking their support for granted.
we two are the same, and i place my cheek against the cold concrete in
sympathy, warming a small part of it.
every step finds another grate, a drain to take undesirable things
below, where they can go unseen, unfelt.
lights and lights, not to prove our worth in searching for Truth, but
to shield us from the teeth and blades and breath of darkness;
failures, all of them, and all of us.