Some days, the city silent
I’ll walk south-east and see the monument
Rise above the hill of home
Picture myself a strong-boned stag,
Black bear treading dusky river,
Gull gliding over Roosevelt amid the choppers,
Catfish slinking ‘neath the muddy water.
Louder days I dodge a red-capped glare,
Choose my bathrooms wisely, when and where
Swallow my voice softer, deeper.
Sink still into this icy lake and wonder
How, like me, the common sparrow
Knows nothing of oath swearing,
Law, tariffs, borders, arms bearing,
But sees the housecat flash its barbed tongue
Outsized, overpowered, 0-1—
Lifts his beaded eye, hopes to become earth,
Bark, sap, nothing, dirt, dark,
Beats his wings for all his life and heart.