The Roman Way Or the O. Henry Twist

I dreamed I took the wrong road into the city and 
the one littered with stars with craters
it's noon and the shops are closed.

no one around. or if they are,
they stare off into distances at traffic helicopters from the parking lots
as if they were from another century

and didn't know a thing about the Wright brothers.

or in the riff raff out of the way cafes
fend off the customers from out of state
all along the parkway.

where can I turn around.
there are no signs
there were no signs

you've been here for decades now
though there was no welcoming committee to speak of
at least the ghosts could have said something audible.

and I just did.

mary angela douglas 7 march 2020