Atlantic City

the first time I went to Atlantic City was a Tuesday afternoon
no one told me Atlantic City was not a Tuesday afternoon place
daylight casinos for desperate money
there hasn’t been a tourist here since 1987
star-eyed ages, cocaine glitterati turned greatest hits
seeing slot machines from space after 10pm
the preacher lady on the bench is the town historian
delivering a pigeon sermon to the flock of fleeting locals
with pizza communion on the boardwalk
throwing ten-dollar darts at a balloon inflated six days ago and showing
the Ferris wheel feigns beachfront dominance
from empty baskets whispering post-apocalyptic secrets
sign of the times
I didn’t brave the end of the boards
that I might wander out of space
into Virgil’s open hand to abandon hope
all ye who exit this Jersey Shore sanctuary