Dragoncrest Cliffs your mom's an anole.

once cayetano had been a child
watching
the stilt-legged dance
of a sierema

all limb and crooked beak
hard eyes
as it plucked a hapless pup
from the reeds by its tail
swung it around
and bashed its fucking brains in.

a tough lesson for that mother to learn
a tough lesson for him to watch
nevertheless
it was the sierema's eyes he thinks of
as sobeille sized him up.

tough crowd.
at least he thinks he's funny.

he rolls the skull towards her
tyrant child
wondering what use she has for it
all yours, buddy.
he says with an open handed gesture
meant to convey goodwill
if any such thing exists
in the drought of that girl's
spiny heart.
what's your name, anyway?