Rowboats and Alligators
Mitchell Bretz
backed into a corner
in wide open water
as I so often manage
with nothing but stick in hand,
and I’ve been at it so long
that I took wood to wood
and fashioned myself a spear
so long and so sharp
that none of those things
could touch me if they wanted.
even on days like this
when they’re all starving,
I beckon them forward.
God himself knows well
that he’ll need greater terrors
to kill such profane spite
as that which compels me
to face the day with vigor
and stay on this damn boat.
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