Dane Karnick
After the painting by Liz Tran, 2016

Whereas most mornings
Start by making breakfast
This dawn had no beginning

The sun lost its azimuth
Other stars filled the sky
That sagged in some places

Dripping toward the horizon
Where people lost their way
And cars followed suit

In this collapse of function
There was no breakdown
Just unfastening

Of the last hour to give
Meaning to a weekday
That had left its calendar