ATLAS OF DISAPPOINTMENT (for Luke Kennard)

Just by holding the book you identify yourself as a tourist.

People tut as they elbow past you. One stops.

He introduces himself as Kevin and sells you a novelty tin watch

which you discover is full of fruit pastilles. They spill on the pavement

and you chase one. It rolls onto a red carpet and a dress shoe

crushes it. You lean forward and the evening begins to strobe.

Tomorrow, you will be crouching over the white powder

in the background of every photo from the premiere.

Some blogger will call it an apt illustration of the movie’s

underlying theme of loneliness in modern cities.