......

i can remember sitting
on that white building's balcony
if i remember correctly, i was sitting
with my back to the ocean; couldn't hear it
the white building
between a wooden water tower next to geese
and another building on the other side
little gray birds would steal chips
if you weren't paying attention, or if you just
let them
the fish were dead, vinegar, salt, lemon, ocean breeze
it was wretched. next stop, hazy valley, burning hills