At first light

She yawns and stretches,

shakes off the fog

From the night before.

Beneath her bridges

Dark seas tumble,

The traffic rivers

Begin to flow.

On her blocks

Bakers brew their coffee

Sweet smells wafting

Through the chilly air.

Front doors thrown open,

Stoops swept clean

Her sleepy children

Stroll off to school.

Tinny songs

As electric buses

Strain to climb mountains

Hoisting heavy loads.

Wharf rat scramble,

peregrine screech

Waves softly lapping

Under the pier.

Sidewalks full

Of busy people

Heels tip tapping

On their way to work.

Vendors hawk paintings,

cheap toys, bodies

Taxis pull over

At yellow curbs.

Sirens blurt

warnings unheeded

By drivers intent

On blaring their horns

Wild parrots winging

Kites flying

Foghorn’s deep wailing

Ships afloat.

The sun dips

Her energy flags

In rolls the fog

Like the night before

Beneath her bridges

Dark seas rumble

Rivers of traffic

ebb and slow.