She sounded prettier on the phone

She Sounded Younger on the Phone

flitted pleasantries we plan
a PTA drop off
old town near southwestern
university to maple
14 to 13
zoom in google map
soon she is right there
apartments over the privacy fence

hey I could lean out my window and yell
babysitters and playdates
train tracks and feral cats
we spin flirtation on common dust

    Do you have animals?
    Just a dog.
    No, like a wild animal or something
    that makes a strange noise.
    Oh.
    That.
    That is my son.
    Ummm.
    Yeah.
    He makes strange noises.

I laugh make light of trampoline screech
and dirt-juggle holler
swing-set hooots
whoops and shriek of
"something not right" cries
(no not a normal cry more like
like an animal yes)

sometimes
(sorry)
sometimes I
I I can't bring myself
to quiet him
hide behind screens
choose release

(she sounded prettier on the phone)
no coffee no playdate
no first friday stroll
just us wild animals
picking pecan shells
flicking them at the fence
spinning face up till even when we fall
big big sky keeps on turning
round us all


...
Survivor poem:
Free choice, trigger 41: Back Yard