winter – other animals

imagine the day fine and the gremlin
in the intestine who shatters the desk
before the final exam to stay warm
through an unremarkable winter may
smile before the surprise final exam

in those dependent days they worked

nights and days and when home slept so

we had to stay quiet despite

the urge to loudly play so we

kept the TV low, laughed with the

laugh track and didn’t understand

spring and winter and spring again

what would it sound like
to walk out on the sound

gulls chase
gulls for a bit

that sound
breathing
needles

so I hope for green
through the still black
door to see color to
burst into bloom into
color burst and burst

what thoughts I would have liked
putting them on a shelf or

but what would it sound like
opening my mouth the way

the white heron hides its neck
am I too late

do I keep
taking notes on sheets of ice

to eat but winter wind. The bloody stone by the turn

jogging in winter you’ll never know the name they call you

splinter

as you try to catch a glimpse of the burnt remains it crawls under your skin where the bright sky of the north holds sovereignty over the too-short winter

what the worm knows of winter suddenly awake at 3

winter rain the smoothness of a kidney bean

my neighbor’s porch light for two months deep winter

my uncle from the stars of winter