Streetlights still illuminated overhead.
Insects pausing in their tread.
But the city is not dead.

Recycling truck rumbles by.
Red begins to tint the sky.
Students groan and sigh.

Now the leaves begin to fall.
After day has already begun its call.
And dew slides down the wall.

The tower rings, once, twice, seven times.
Students shower to wake their minds.
The street crowd waits for dimes.

With tables and walkers, the plaza begins to fill.
Professors shiver away the morning chill.
Cars creeping halfway up the hill.

Custodians trundle down the halls to clean.
Pigeons land and turn their heads to preen.
Two dogs race across the green.

The professor lowers his goggles, pulls on his glove.
Two sophomores hold hands playing at love.
The sun shines high above.

Rice served with broccoli stir fry and dropped on compostable plates.
Loud off-key warbling from the frats that everybody hates.
Young adults leaving through the gates.

The bell tolls again, signifying the final end to (most) class.
Tests and essays returned, students hope they passed.
Squirrels running through the grass.

The day’s trash piles up in the garage in a heaping mound.
A subway rumbles, then fades underground.
Along with city sound.

The busses change to the evening schedule from the afternoon one.
There are still parties, concerts, but the day is done.
All as the sun

sets.

Part of NaNoWriMo Penance. Title donated by Patricia N.

Bonus poem! This was based on my alternate idea for the main one.

In the night, all is
vibrant, alive, and real.
But the day is still.

This entry was posted on December 15, 2010 and is filed under Creativity. Tags: Poetry, Berkeley, Haiku, NaNoWriMo penance