by Lindz McLeod

When we drove up the coast.

I saw so many bodies.

Two hedgehogs, one seagull. I have questions—

what happened to the gull? I can understand

The hedgehogs but not the gull; surely, surely

it would have been higher, freer,

not stuck to the gluedried earth.

like I am. I would never have flown near

any car         if I was a gull.

I would remember

To avoid people.

One hare too, but that was different.

The ribcage was exposed, a bite taken from the

Heart            body left intact

A fitting warning.

The stars have dusted you with love;

they cried out while my lips compared.

I swallow all your thrown mistakes,

the grape-sour taste of lesson learned.

I wonder how fast we need to be going

For the asphalt to knock me out.