August Kleinzahler – Sept 13, Level III

Because of the recent 20th anniversary of 9/11, I’ve been thinking about my time in the Northeast. This felt familiar.

POETICS

I have loved the air above ShopRite Liquors

on summer evenings

better than the Marin Hills at dusk

lavender and gold

stretching miles to the sea.

At the junction, up from the synagogue

a weeknight, necessarily

and with my father—

a sale on German beer.

Air full of living dust:

bus exhaust, airborne grains of pizza crust

wounded crystals

appearing, disappearing

among streetlights and unsuccessful neon.