The Mississippi 1: 00 A.M.

It’s a snake, dark black
look out or it will
eat you alive. I’ve
heard it said
you can drown
in a teaspoon
of water. This is
a lifetime of those.

a foghorn blast
a wave breaks on the rocks
a picture in my glove compartment
a part of me
is drowning

is that a tear?
a goodbye?
a coat pulled tight
around the shoulders?

It’s just another night,
when did everything
become so goddamn
important.