august morning in the city


traffic lights are flashing
above the dark streets -
gold. gold.
red. red.
a man drives by
thinking man thoughts.
a single summer cloud
is drifting -
dark gray against
the pale before dawn.
the cafe lights are dim -
there will be no coffee
for another hour.
a chain clinks
against the metal flagpole.
i sit in my car,
windows open,
playing solitaire.