One by one the animals disappeared
either shot or destroying each other

or owned by banks or the military,

the short dog, the eagle mean

and not giving over,

the terrible melancholic deer.



I admired their efforts in the face of apocalypse

and so lined up my inner animals

in a similar formation:

the happy stupid one, the cheater,

the practicing intellectual,

the yogini, the softball champion&#

you keep trying to get it right


alcohol

restaurants



tonight’s menu on the placemate again



a sweat-crusted "what?"

he’s just happy to see you—