3
Bridelines
Now it's winter
thorn
branch and squirrel.
In the distance
white bone
of tree
spackled sky
teeth
markings.
Crossing a field near the projects in Chicago years ago, fire crackers went off, the police jumped in their cars sirens roaring, and I walked across the field swatting at buzzing insects. Near the entrance to the building where I was teaching algebra to high school dropouts, the security guard tackled me, pointed to a nearby window, and said, "He's been shooting at you the entire time you were coming here. Didn't you realize?"
