falling awake

the world is falling awake
with every sleeping honk of its horn
mermaids and mesmerized camelots
eager harlots and harlots lost
come from between the miniature reindeer
fountain
to come upon some relief.

let's be honest with each other:
nobody suspects themselves. it's assumed
we wouldn't allow these things to happen.
you cannot mention what you haven't felt
or summertime, pretend it's cold.
it isn't.

& in these moments wait
the close, cropped feeling of being alone
a cold on the rise; the nose fills
with floods of unknown women. these
are areas alone; we haven't deserted
you; and yet, we haven't met.