pay for parking

as you stand
at the machine
placing your ticket
in to cover
parking for
two hours,
then your money,
you wait.
hands in your
pockets
in the darkness
of night.
a wind
creeping up
your sleeves.
in front of
you is the river.
behind you the glitter
of buildings
gone dim.
you are the last
car out
after being
the first car
in. the ticket
frees you once
again. the bridge
is without traffic.