Zoology

First tapir. First sloth. First gibbon tail dangling from on high. First tortoise. First mash of lettuce and red warming light. Komodo dragon. Pink webbed foot on human-fashioned rock.

First tunnel giving way to blue aquarium light. First otter writhe and rub. First rose monkey butt amongst heaps of ash and white.

First fossil. First youth. Ridged gum giving way to tooth. Sleek fish scent. Wooden cluck of a bamboo curtain shaking shut.

Your eyes darted like the fish did. The pregnant dolphin nosed at the underwater gate.

Tropical Trail. Discovery Bay. On the way home, snow swirling across the road. A white van rolled onto its side, red eyes bright, puffing fumes.

You slept heavy. Wooden bars. Knuckles brushing the whiskers of Mr. Meow.