Rabbits

In the mornings the rabbits scatter from the yard

They run off or they freeze not even shaking

A little brown eye unblinking, a round still back

Ready to arc away but for now not—

Look how steady now in this my neighborhood

I planted a rosebush, I planted some daisies

I planted some yarrow, I planted the vines

And I’ll wait till they take over

Mercilessly not watering the lawn

Since in this life it’s stupid to do anything

To prolong this life

Fake path, fake heaven

The heat now rising from the pavements

It is for others to water their lawns

Swim in their blue pools, wanting to live

Forever just thinking of green

Shade perfectly surfaced

The heat rising early from the pavements

The tall pines on the ridge, a little dead bird beneath—

Do they want justice because there isn’t any god

Or god because there isn’t any justice—

& the interstate is clogged with cars vibrating and hot all the way along the river

The sun is nowhere and right overhead

I’ll want for the roses to grow over the doorway

& the fox eats the rabbits or the hawks do—

Yesterday one dropped a minnow onto the sidewalk

It dried in the heat

In my sleep I scatter like rabbits after all the wants I want

They scatter like rabbits or freeze solid in my dreaming gaze

I can’t be more lost than anyone else