PET POLITICS

you on slick earthy sand

under the magnificence of

periwinkle and pink

cloudless sky

are paralyzed with

a sobering wonder

while the waves of sound

that emanate out from

the rustles of barefeet in

the swampy shrubs join

the crunch and grind of granules

churned between naked toes

in the soft pliable beach

amplified by

unwanted silence

and you crouched down

beside an oil-covered pelican spewing

brown and black sludge and filth

from its gaping cavernous beak

while boats struggle

in the sticky coastal wake

inhale the scent of

something foul and disorderly

and you

the giver of names

i observe your ways

how you slouch over

shaking and despondent

how you weep ceaselessly

still fish washing in from

the warm salty sea

how the regal bird

is also

stiff and dead

and without any breath

how you are such a broken

helpless

lonely dumb thing