Hark! What work is this?

Apple stays fresh
if apple stayed fresh.

The red or green
remains red or green

given enough stop and go
and stop.

Thermostatic equilibrium
and a hot pad.

A kiln-dried slice of firewood
and a very Los Angeles day.

Just enough water in the sidewalk crack
to get your little hands dirty.

A little bit of light in the window
at the beginning of the night.