“Stratospheric Universe”

by Joanna Gilman Hyde

My Bedroom 5:50am

see “Story of a Map”

Using the back of my car

Protected by an old lavender sheet

From Eliza’s bed

Eye am gathering cans of paint

Mostly full

From the well-organized

Waste Management Facility

On the 103

And stacking them

Rust and all

On my front portico

Where I once sat

Like a statue

Contemplating a former life