City,
sleep

as the ends of your
sea seep like
blood through our
crevassed
pores -

City,
sleep

and dream of
waves
crashing harshly
against the uncut
ridges of
tomorrow's
shores -

City,
sleep

with legs closed
to Olongapo,
to the freight truck
liaisons of
our starless nights,

mounting
clouds so light
and bare
they ought to be
bright -

City,
sleep

running
fingers through
the pocketfuls
of loose change
in the torn hems
of your skirt,

pricking
fingers
on the pinions
and gears
that grind quietly
the dollars
crinkling
your sunset shores

awake, city,

and know
the caress of
your marbled dawn,
and smother your dress and yearn
to acquiesce,

City,
sleep

no more.