Venice Wakes Up
Seagulls cry out
as they circle, soar, and sway,
then descend on spilled trash
to feast on yesterday’s remains.
Police patrol the Boardwalk
in shiny SUV’s,
as homeless people shake out their blankets
in front of the Venice Hotel & Suites.
A sleepy group lays claim
to a half-moon-shaped grassland
bordered by eight palm trees,
filled with quiet strumming of a one-man band.
Behind the half-moon
winds a concrete trail, where
morning joggers jog
and cyclists ride against cool, morning air.
As sun lights the scene,
palm leaves are nearly still,
yet they yawn awake
as their color begins to fill.
Green and alive against a quiet sky
faded from periwinkle
to silvery-blue; below the horizon,
dancing, soft ocean’s twinkle.
Across the vast beach,
waves crash into shore
as Venice wakes up,
preparing for another night’s roar.
