After William Carlos Williams

I

 

When the gun

fired into

the chest of

 

the bystander

brilliant blood

pumped out

 

endlessly

and the man

slumped down

 

onto the sidewalk

among the

garbage bags

 

II

 

When the snake

slid onto

the curve of

 

the hot boulder

all its length

followed

 

seamlessly

while its tongue

leaped out

 

searching the air for

innocence

sleeping mouse