Behind The Poop Deck

                                    Hermosa Beach, California

Sue sees Mr. Laval the landlord coming,

frail, white-haired, pulled along the alley

by his poufy Chow, Saber. They stop in,

Laval complaining how bad

the noise was from the bar last night –

Sue says its patrons brawl, piss on her car,

have sex against the dumpster.

A bunch of damned imposers, he gripes.

Vows to file a protest and, not for the first time,

puckers up toward Sue for a kiss

who ducks and keeps talking

as if nothing happened. Saber whines

and Laval heads for the strand. Grabbing

a Payday bought at the corner store

no one seems to shop in

and run by an angry ex-librarian, Sue

turns on the TV, thinks C-SPAN’s debate

looks good -- she sits down, opens the candy

and from under the wrapper a white moth

pops out, flies straight for her mouth.

She jumps up and screams,

debate moderator chiding

the panel to remember how undefined

and diverse the pursuit of happiness is.