Cliff Poems
See Them Run
I am in Beijing, sitting 1 AM,
reflecting on Kafka, yearning for Bukowski,
punishing myself with peanuts for being snobby,
and seeing both in front of me.
One in print form, from a chained-classic book store,
the other a Chinese-state brewery product-
also my tired bracelet, a full ashtray,
and a group of tourist girls giggling in the hostel room direct left-
make for a scene that would share a smile with none of us three.
Hear a pounding on the floor,
a phrase, another burst of laughter,
decide I shall sip the last drops of beer from my NBA-sponsored bottle,
pack my zippy belongings, head to the lobby for water,
and go to join Natalie, hopefully feeling stomach better,
for sleep then dreams then a flight to Shanghai in the morning.
I will miss these red Oriental courtyard lanterns,
the sound of middle night rain on a tin roof covering,
Developments unseen.
reflecting on Kafka, yearning for Bukowski,
punishing myself with peanuts for being snobby,
and seeing both in front of me.
One in print form, from a chained-classic book store,
the other a Chinese-state brewery product-
also my tired bracelet, a full ashtray,
and a group of tourist girls giggling in the hostel room direct left-
make for a scene that would share a smile with none of us three.
Hear a pounding on the floor,
a phrase, another burst of laughter,
decide I shall sip the last drops of beer from my NBA-sponsored bottle,
pack my zippy belongings, head to the lobby for water,
and go to join Natalie, hopefully feeling stomach better,
for sleep then dreams then a flight to Shanghai in the morning.
I will miss these red Oriental courtyard lanterns,
the sound of middle night rain on a tin roof covering,
Developments unseen.
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See Them Run
See Them Run
