California Dreamin'

The blue collar worker
was birthed from east
coast winters
most unpredictable winters
or one's never to forget

with their thick skin
and spite

gritting up the streets
with taxed
furnace fuel,

they turn to bourbon
for a cozy night
and pay their dues
to stay the cycle

honor wooden crosses
and men who suffer prodigally while
32, 000 miles west
they practice sun idolatry

and appreciate a rhyme,
a second rainy day
They say, "Hey man,"
and dig kimchi
and chase their dreams across
the beach

as the earth goes on dizzying
'round the elder sun.