Hydrocarbon sunsets fade
along
the fabled gold-plated coast
while
the tourists abandon the beach
for
their luxury hotel suites
leaving
the storied western shoreline
to 
the Pacific's nocturnal scavengers.

Starving mongrels seize trash cans
along
the deserted waterfront
while
sea gulls search squawking noisily
for
their territorial claims
leaving
the stinking restaurant bins
to
the homeless shadowing prosperity.