Periodic Tables

mostly horizontal, the author’s
work leaned into themselves, causing
passersby to knock knees on abruptly
hyphenated table legs
with brown mahogany stain still wet
between the leaves.

the course of stopped traffic pushed
pedestrians into galvanized sculptures, each one
resting its head on slightly skewed
water colors.

the domino effect lingered after dark,
artists miffed by candied
apples stuck to ersatz ivy, tracing lace
curtains to oblivion.

sales were down and dropping prices
worked on some, but baskets meant
to be full remained empty
and hurried shoppers dabbed
at red clay, performing delicate
maneuvers back to their
cars, locked against migrant thieves,
up from the south on holiday.