from 'a storied procession of palms'

the Prado
remnants of a wealthier Lima
where Spanish colonial mansions now house oficinas

an avenida
where two strips of street travel in different directions
palms stand in the green space between street and sidewalk
cars and emissions fill the space beneath the green fronds

I ride along through continuously warm days
surprised that the magnificent now diminished to a roadway
only hints of a splendor that once existed