Reincarnation

Monday, January 16, 2012

The boy the others teased
all through elementary school
for his angel-cake pallor and Coke-bottle glasses

has returned as an albino alligator. I saw him
last week in the science museum’s pool,
where he was basking on a heated rock,

all four legs slumped back to expose
the pearly pink pads of his uncalloused feet.
His eyes were pink, too—and still near-sighted.

Sunday, January 1, 2012