One for Los Angeles

by Jessica Dolan

whose pastel paints dried in the sun
and flaked off of storefronts and taquerias.
for a summer of burials
in the cemetery of the stars -
interments of the working wounded
the damn finest soldiers ever digitized.

i’ve bathed myself in all your tributaries:
the plaza fountains, the hotel showers,
and the complimentary bottled water.
purified myself of san francisco santeria,
and come ready to be incensed.