“vonita” is her given name,
but she gave that name back;
she goes by “von” these days
out on the beach

her own life is a mess, so she
guards other people’s lives;
up in this chair
and past the common reach

of guys (and girls) who want her, or
who want to be just like her;
the days are bright,
but covered with a haze

for von knows that the truth is this:
the night will have its secrets,
and sometimes stars and silence are
essays