vow
once in a while
I exceed his expectations:
unlatching the door without assistance
banking the shot for the minigolf hole-in-one
driving on the left without incident the first time
(second time I hit the curb; more typical)
nearly calculating the squares in an 8×8 grid
performing to applause
you don’t need to impress me
he says
oh yes
I do
Hector’s Visit
he’s overcome
each time another animal chooses him
overjoyed they’d share a moment
today when the little dolphin
broke away from her pod
and frolicked all around the boat
saying hello a dozen ways
he was amazed
before that, when massive Toy Soldier
the show jumper nuzzled his shirt
he glowed at being touched
the little owl, blue penguin, purring cheetah
each animal he’s really met
says clearly to him
as if in his mother tongue
you are not alone
reconnects his hairless ape life
to the world of fur feather bone wild
his pressed palm feels a real heart beat
and remembers we’re all one
and someday
he’ll feel that in the tree and fern
skipping river and stinging wind
silent stars and now-cold stone
even the space between cells
the negative cloud where all’s uncertain
even there in the nothingness he’ll sense
we’re all one
he’s tethered to every last bit
including his four chickens
that haven’t yet hatched
silent E
I make ‘em say their names
draw the sound out long
quiet but fierce
fir gets set ablaze
cap transforms into hero-wear
not carries a message
a hug grows large
scars terrify
a pin towers
I blow ‘em up big
make ‘em sound hard
shove little flat hats
down tight on their heads
don’t let ‘em forget
who they are
