| SWALLOW By Keith Hoerner engrossed with millions of americans in others’ misfortunes movement distracts me from the nearly two-hundred pound nine year old on tv you carry a juicy earthworm in your bone-colored beak to feed three tiny, ravenous chicks nestedinthefosterholly outside my window the image of padlocks on pantries screaming boy man, sobbing mother then you again – wings spread victorious return with another twisting morsel millions of pixels shed light on conflicted emotions pastel-plastic cafeteria trays moderated portions face down on the floor ah, the image of you the even-measured pace with which you feed so naturally beaks wide open tufts of plumage sunlit-exposed organs through tissue-paper skin commercial-sponsored judgment is rendered guilt through gluttony human failing self-will run riot tormented guests stand, starve for tangible solutions About the Author: Keith Hoerner (BS, MFA) lives, teaches, and pushes words around in Southern Illinois. |
