late october
summer gone gone gone nearing midnight
a sudden storm swarms over Ditch Plains
from the east
from the wild Atlantic
heavy rain, gale winds, a drop in temperature
no warning__
I never check the weather
other than to watch the sky
the storm gathers strength
heavy rain pounds my tent
in the backyard of the beach cottage
on Ditch Plains Road
winds buckle the inflatable support
the lines holding firm
the tent not flying away
like Dorothy's house in THE WIZARD OF OZ
Montauk is not Kansas
And I'm not Dorothy__
I sleep through most of the storm
wake in the morning sunny sky the wind carries the sound of waves breaking on the beach
Wind buffets the tent
I hammer the unearthed pegs
back into the ground
retie the loose lines__
quarter to eight in the backyard
drinking coffee solo
next a plunge in the ocean
go work at 10:30
coming back to Brooklyn tonight
On a slow train__ leaving
The life of a beach bum
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