Meriwether Clarke
Pillowcase and envelope.
Pit inside rotten fruit.
A thirsty cat licking
window panes
in rain. Carnival staircase.
Clowns without makeup.
Lent on a poor year when
every day is a fast.
Heartland: not
where all
the hearts have gone.
At night
there are tar-black lakes and
warehouse lights so hot
they hurt to touch.