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.