SEDIMENTS OF SANTA MONICA
Brenda Hillman
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A left margin watches the sea floor approach
 
It takes 30 million years
It is the first lover
 
More saints     for Augustine's mother
 
A girl in red shorts shakes Kafka's
The Trial free of some sand
 
A left margin watches the watcher from Dover
 
After the twentieth century     these cliffs
Looked like ribbons on braids or dreads
 
A dream had come right over
With a sort of severe leakage
 
Ah love let us be true to one another
 
Went down to the ferris wheel
God's Rolodex
 
There were neon spikes around everyone
Like the Virgin's spikes
 
Old punk's mohawk     Evidence of inner fire
 
Rode throwing words off     Red current     Light swearing
 
Ah love The century
Had become a little drippy at the end
 
We're still growing but the stitches hurt     Let us be
 
True to one another for the world
 
Easy on the myths now
Make it up     Sleep well