Empire of the Sun
Every evening I half press
my face to the window of the living
room
to watch the sun
set
behind the skyline.
It’s framed by another apartment building
slightly
to the right
and across
the street,
and another
(under construction)
to my left and on the same side
of the street
as the apartment
building
to the slight right.
If I con-
tort my neck
just enough
I can see purple
swallowing orange
while the Empire State
stands watch
and while the stainless steel
of the Chrysler does its best
to reflect the day being devoured.
Before I Insta-story #nycsunset
in a vain attempt to own
a moment of this cycle,
I despair for the neighbors
to the slightest of rights
and across the street,
but wonder,
Do they
ever watch the sun rise
and consume me?
Newtown Literary, 2020