Author: crdahlberg

Yuma Building

“Constructed in 1882, the historic Yuma Building in the Gaslamp District was one of downtown’s first brick structures, and was built by Captain Wilcox who arrived in 1849 at the helm of the U.S. Invincible. The ship brought the engineering crew that attempted to turn the San Diego River into False Bay, now known as Mission Bay. The building is called The Yuma because of Captain Wilcox’s business connections in the Arizona town. Later used as a hotel, this structure was frequented by Wyatt Earp (folk hero of the American Wild West) and has the distinction of being the first to be closed during the clean-up of the red-light district.” San Diego, CA

To Honor a Mosquito Hawk

Fallen mosquito hawk,
Brave you were,
Bent upon your mission
To fulfill your full two-day lifespan:
You hoped to mate and then to die.
Today you fulfilled only the latter half of your purpose
When you crash-dived into a standing bowl of water
In the kitchen sink.
How unforgivable of me!
Had I noticed, I would have plucked you free
And laid you upon my pillow for your hoped-for restoration
Blow-drying your wings within a hair of toasting your fairy-like body.
Instead, I processed your fragile body down the garbage disposal.
In death, you join your brother mosquito hawk,
Who just yesterday became entangled in my freshly washed hair.
Unintentionally dismembered,
His disassembled body parts circled down my shower drain.
I like you guys because you are slow enough to catch.
You tickle my loosely cupped hands.
On a better day, I will snatch and rescue your nephews and nieces
When they stray into my house,
And I will remember you.