My friend in the Heartland, Jessi Schweiger, penned a damn fine short poem. Check out “California Kingdom.”

California Kingdom

Stubbed out cigarettes
Tiny burns, smears of ash, tobacco flakes
Like a dreadful snow.
Coffee stains
The sill, rings on the sheet, henna patterns
An homage to insomnia.
The laptop
Low hum, radiant heat, distraction
Where a man used to sleep.