The rolling expanse of green lawns
sculpted flower beds and lollipop trees
spreads sweetly along the river at the
foot of our city
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .until the geese arrive
with their little green and black cigars
that they excrete like giant parentheses
on every patch of grass or walk
to squish underfoot like perverse
banana peels
. . . . . . . . . . . . . —oh for some inside
knowledge about what besides a shotgun
actually preys on these little mobsters.
These natural graffiti are fallen middle fingers
lopped off and abandoned in mid-gesture.
Would you care for some of our wolves? We’ll pay the shipping.
How kind of you! Would love to take up your offer, but the coyotes (recent arrivals who have interbred with wolves, apparently, and are quite large) might object. Would you like some of them? We not only pay shipping, but actually accompany the shipment with a rather large orchestra that has its own sound system.
Thank you, but no. We have our own bands of coyotes and the wolves have louder instruments.
Could I interest you in some fine, goose-rolled cigars? They’re all natural.
Really, you’re too thoughtful, and again, thank you, but I wouldn’t want to trouble you when we have the same wholly organic cigars freely available along our riverbanks. And I don’t smoke.
I understand. Really. And just when I was about to sweeten the pot with a fresh bucket of zesty zebra mussels garnished with a lovely garland of purple loosestrife. Too bad. Oh well, I can tell when it’s time to desist.