Acts of Levitation are Difficult in the Heat

The sound of hooves; horses pulling 
a float— Why they call it float strikes you 
as absurd. Its four wheels wobble 
on cobblestones. How many people glued 
crepe paper flowers on every side? A giant 
cake, on which children sit like statues in frothy
clothes; except they smile and wave their hands. 
A woman cradles a skull in her hands like a bouquet.
The sun carves scallops on every window. Each face 
accepts the signature of time. Lie closer to the floor 
where it is cooler. Dip a cotton square dipped in water 
to lay across your brow. The procession 
is just starting or ending. It begins 
and ends at the same place.