"I appear, the thought appears: quark." -Heather Christle, from The Difficult Farm

Bad Breath While Laughing

I opened my big mouth again

and a little sparrow flew out

it was flying and beating

like a heart beats

and I clutched to my chest

I opened my big mouth again

to call to the little sparrow

to come back that I

needed it

and two more sparrows flew out

both inhaling and exhaling deeply

the three sparrows fluttered together

and began flying away

and I began chasing them

every time I call out

more sparrows fly out

each mimicking some sort

of internal organ that’s vital

one gurgled like my stomach

another churned like kidneys do

I want to stop calling to the little sparrows

but I just can't

I’m still chasing the sparrows

and still calling after them

and I’m not sure what’s left in me

but I’m waiting for that last sparrow to fly out

and grab me by my shoulders

to fly away with my hollow body