Urban Development Self-Study

 

Allen Braden

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Half-exposed under a lattice

of perforated leaves aflutter

 

like blouses, a seagull kisses

the mayor polishing off a fifth

 

term in office. Twenty campaigns

of sand flea darken the beached

 

rocks & bullwhip kelp. Agates gleam

then dry dull. When locals vote

 

to stockpile their silt to dike,

a culvert bores through like

 

an exit wound. Seedlings begin

to accessorize the naked bluffs.

 

The fleas push an offensive inland

while our mayor tries on slogans.

 

Tides weaken & the leaves applaud.

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