Down Past Chinatown

"goeasylady" advises an obstacle gawker elbows outas resident struggles past bag-laden from far-off shops on my door knob hangs menu of local vendor "here to assist you" chirps ad listing scenes it cleans: crime trauma accident death looking forward to winter months in my cocoon now not so sure but rent reduced may help me save deep sleep will draw me inward and black velvet drapes with matching mossgreen tassels -- plus earplugs - make luxe this bright ground zero bedroom dusted windows a relief

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This extended haiku (called a tanka) about living in Ground Zero after 9/11 appeared in Small Spiral Notebook, September 2002.