dwarfed by the faded hues
of a vess soda bottle
I drink in
"a billion bubbles" of dust
from the vacant lot

using the remote control
to turn off an episode of CSI
I'm not sure I want to know 
why someone's put a piece of tape
over the mute button

at peace with themselves
after the rain
the resurrection lilies
lining the path
to the hospice

travel brochures
for the caribbean
a splash in the shower
is as close as I'll get
to taking a cruise this year

the impertinent squawks
of blue jays during
the presidential address
they must know that troops
are still being deployed
to afghanistan

the flap of 500,000
pigeons at sunrise
I'm happy not to be part
of the inflated crowd
at the glenn beck rally

a step back in time
into the narrow booths
of crown candy
where there's no plans to expand
anything but the patrons

In business since 1913, Crown Candy Kitchen is a St. Louis landmark featuring great ice cream, candy, and other food items. 

http://crowncandykitchen.net/about/

well protected
from the midday sun
a bee resting
under the parasol
of a squash blossom

a chipmunk eyes me
from its rock perch
perhaps I'm
the only nut it's met
along this overgrown trail

a dimly-lit waiting room
as if this were a restaurant
where the waiter
is about to give me a bill
I don't want to see