Ben bought Plot No. 8
in the Old Section
of the Taft Pioneer Cemetery
with a crumpled check left over
in the glove box of his Ford pickup

he walked the beach two hours,
bought a cheap sleeping bag
at the K Mart across from the Indian casino,
had three Scotches
at the Blue Cedar Bar on C Street

and slept like the dead
in the weeds on Plot No. 8
while a restless westerly blew
over him all that dreamless night