(Augusta) (Sicilia 17)

numbers in the stalls of the train station toilets
men lingering selling pot on convenience store corners
mopeds flying around roundabouts without helmets
and receipts for every €1.90 purchase made to keep track of deceit.

tickets that need to be purchased validated
and punched on the train
more recycling bins than the waste to go in
signs that say do not cross the tracks – use the subway
and freely drinking beer in the plaza on
sunday evening at ungodly hours.

sales in the street of rip-off designer clothing
unregulated immigrants uses basis of economics to get by
wild animals scraping lives together from scraps of the market
and police protecting the people from a contaminated black beach.

paying at the cash register prior to buying beer
weighing of vegetables before their supper purchase
men in tuxedos serving coffee and water
and free helpings of fruit off the back of a likely illegal truck.

parking of cars anywhere there is room
crossing streets between traffic hoping not to die
driving up one way roadways in the opposite direction
and an unspoken rule to give leave for any necessary swift moves.

youth in the squares far from intoxication
arms of men and women linked to the same gender.
fashionable people in every direction
and men watching women like hyenas hunting gazelles.