The Brooklyn Rail

A TRAIL OF ANTS LEADS US TO ITS EYEBALL

I have always wanted to be shy
Instead I exclaim too loudly
When the bird hits the window
Oh God

We leave it alone
The whole body breathing
Twisted open

We read you are supposed to put decals on windows
To prevent them from mistaking door for sky
The whole trip we point out decals
They’re actually in a lot of public places if you’re looking

I suggest putting it out of its misery
Not even sure if it’s more humane
Or if it’s in misery
Like run it over with the car?
I can’t I can’t says B answering himself
It’s actually not a bad idea
The car idea

This is not a poem about a bird
God no how embarrassing
It’s about how if I had a window
I would cut a hole

CAIRO, NEW YORK

It wasn’t a good day
But while you slept
I saw a bald eagle fly over us

Sometimes I want to take it back
But then I wouldn’t have seen
Your urine in the snow
A yellow lopsided heart

A GOOD DEAL

Once a clown threatened
To throw me out a window.
I won’t comment on
If I enjoyed this.
The window was high,
The clown was not.
But I knew he would do it,
If I didn’t make him laugh.