proceed

was snow less white
without her purchase?

every prevarication prevail
in deciding, when drunk,
to get a public massage in Memphis

sequestered in Alleghany
subpoenaed upon Allerton
Tip-Top-Tap goes the Water Tower
& all her memories of tomorrow

oh dear the pelican,
pale stork of the moment
look out empty on the grass
and cry with a frail beak:
'Proceed.'