casting off

the river didn't widen

it didn't procrastinate

it thinned 

into Gas Street Basin

lamplight lifting from the lock

casting off casting off
we passed a whispering boat

made of wildness and the artiste 

talked

loudly on her blackberry

he rolled his cigarette and sighed into the rust more

authentically than she

could ever hope to

taking two slow breaths 

before following
my question

into the marina

we watched
deep veins in the sky 

open on the tall 

machinery of this city

we watched a quiet man

fish

hooking bread onto a line

casting off casting off

I ask 

her name

my pound

of flesh she says

"remember what your mother promised you,

she promised you fuck all sweet merry dolls!"

and she shimmied down Moor Street

smelling of piss
and Elvis

the river didn't widen

it didn't procrastinate

it thinned 

into Gas Street Basin

lamplight lifting from the lock

casting off casting off