Pacific Standard Time

It’s dark down here on the sand
although the sky’s lit up like
Mega-Millions
              gnawing on a lightbulb
                              above the crossed-up swell
that propels the pearl-handled
tide

& the way your breathing sort of
creases the air
              makes me want to pull the shade on
a thousand years worth of
                              ocean sunsets

every single one of them
exactly the same

but I’m hooked on whatever
happens after
                              as the streets give up their
trembling denial
              & the moon hauls out it’s
black velvet paintings
              each worth at least a half-
minute of silence
                              pacific standard time