of a death

bridged traffic—
slow suspension

wires taut, freezing
naked over riverrush air—

the city bus veered
over a slick yellow median line

seats spilled red
imitation velvet all

over the aisle.

Into dagger waves
chopped by rescue oars

fare quarters
tumble like acrobats
from the till

defibrillate.
clear.

clear.
flatline.

silence
damming the gush
of motorist passerby

from each end
of this metropolitan artery

so far gone