Where to Find Trash

I tried to write a list poem

“Raccoon” made from trash, by Arthur Bordalo (aka Bordalo II). Lisbon Portugal. photo by Rob Oo.

I tried to write 
a list poem about trash,
stuff we paid for,
cast off to the road 
-- who does that? 
I always wonder.
who heaves a mattress into
the Grandview Triangle? --
and tires, and patio furniture
and hunks of dashboards and
and slices of bumpers and
holy mufflers and 
QT cups and Casey's cups 
some half emtpy, 
some half full
and rear projection TVs 
and smushed boxes --
I tried to make the list but
the list kept wandering 
to tree limbs and billabongs
and seagulls wearing 
six-pack rings and
what happened to 
all our spoons? and 
why do we hide our 
candy wrappers 
from each other
down the couch cushions?
and noticed a body
covered in blankets
under the brush 
in our subdivision
and gaped at 
the tarp sea 
in the Victoria park 
and, stone silent,
passing by East Hastings,
man's detritus shooting up
with government needles--
whatwhat
what--
On a windy day
a concern:
maybe the can falls over
and Hot Pocket boxes
escape. Maybe 
unconfined Pampers
reveal themselves
in the slush.
I tried to write
a list poem 
to contain the dross
of the wide sargasso sea,
aluminum
laminated with polypropylene
flapping at the back fence,
but, 
it just goes 
on 
and on
and on

A list poem is a deliberately organized poem containing a list of images or adjectives that build up to describe the poem’s subject matter through an inventory of things. — poets.org 

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“Stars fading but I linger on, dear …”

(“Dream a Little Dream of Me” is a 1931 song with music by Fabian Andre and Wilbur Schwandt and lyrics by Gus Kahn. A popular standard, it has seen well over 400 recorded versions.)