Want

By Gretchen Marquette
When I was twelve, I wanted a macaw
but they cost hundreds of dollars.


If we win the lottery? I asked.
Macaws weren’t known to be great talkers,


but they were affectionate.
Yes, my mother said. If we win the lottery.


I was satisfied, so long as it wasn’t impossible.

The macaw would be blue.
Source: Poetry (March 2016)