The paint is down.
The lights are up.

Some people get up in the middle of the night
to watch meteor showers.
Some stay up late
to catch Santa Clause.
Others get up early
to experience a sunrise.
Somewhere in Lowell right now
someone is taking their Benadryl
and setting their alarm:
two-way traffic is coming to downtown.

A webbed folding chair has been placed by a door.
It will be carried down and set up.
Maybe at the corner of Market and Shattuck
Perhaps at Merrimack and Palmer.
4 am can’t come soon enough.
It’s historical.
For the first time
in what seems like forever
there will be something else
being discussed in Backtalk.

Thank-you.