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Police managed to whisk a 2-foot-long alligator into a box after a traveler spotted it under an escalator at O’Hare International Airport. -- Chicago Tribune, November 4, 2013 (Image source: Chicago Herpetological Society) |
Any Alligator
In a state
Of nature
Will say “Fresh”
When he means
“Future,” will
Favor carrion’s
Flavors, stow
Prey away
In an under-
Water cache,
A murky keep
Where steeps
His three or
Four months’
Hoard of dis-
Gorged flesh.
The sound
Byte for all
He catches is
“See you later.”
He’s no flight
Risk, he’ll fight
And die
Right there for
What’s in store.
But in O’Hare,
Where scale-
Pelted carry-ons
Mock him,
Where deeply
Impressed dead
Kin parade
As O.T.K.
Boots, where
Reptile-backed
Black belts
Train in heavy-
Duty grey
Tupperware,
Some T.S.A.
Agents looking
On, some
Looking in,
In O’Hare,
It’s no wonder
Any Alligator
Fresh out
From under
An up-bound
Escalator
Might confuse
An interrogator
Saying “Terror”
For “Terra” or
“Hate” for “Hide.”
Daniel Bosch is Senior Editor @ www.berfrois.com .