Lily Ladewig

Poem for the Animal

My biggest concern was how to break apart
the animal. I used knives and my hands.
I reread your telegram for inspiration and dug
my heels in. At this point I was already hungry,
I turned on the stove and threw all my wine glasses
out the window. I stuck your telegram to the fridge
with a yellow X magnet. The Le Creuset
was beautiful. So beautiful I turned off the lights
and put my hands on it. I closed my eyes and pressed
my face in the little animal’s belly. I filled the Le
Creuset with water and placed it outside the back door
to capture the moon. I contemplated penne
versus spaghetti. Your telegram fell to the floor.
The moon was a little white leaf floating in the dark.


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