Foreign and Domestic
Growing up, my neighbor had a lawn
covered with plastic flamingos. She
was also the elementary principal
and when you found yourself in trouble
her office was like the everglades.
Secretly I always wanted a possum,
to stroll down congress with him on
a leash, maybe sporting a cowboy hat
& a bolo tie. Perhaps I’ll get
a flock of ostriches to roam my yard,
or a platypus to lounge in my bird-
bath. Sure, I love dogs, and cats
are fine, but have you ever considered
the looks you’d get with a lynx,
a scorpion on a thread of red yarn,
maybe an octopus pushed up the street
in a baby carriage. Or perhaps,
I return to my youth, don a pink boa
and guide my flock of pink charlatans
to the public pool. Watch as the kids
run away as I once did, after hitting
one with my bike, putting its plastic
head in my pocket and rushing home.
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