Crows are panting
like small feathered dogs
as Pedro's sweat falls on the handle
of his lawnmower. A local wino
shuffles along; his eyes meet
the sidewalk's rude but tidy glare.
The plague of dandelions
in the neighbor's yard
grabs rays while the grabbing
is good and creeps to his open door
as a witness to the mental beating
he gives his wife. He's
too starved for air to swing his hands
towards her face while Venus and Mars
scream "fire!"
as they circle the sun.