by Sarah Waksmonski

The penguin carried countless bribes
To the female perched in the concrete castle.
But there were no pebbles
Under the fiery oak tree.
A twig would have to do.

The orangutan’s pot belly
Pressed against the glass.
The mother and the infant
Slumped over her back
Shared a phonebook for lunch.
His eyes shied away
From anyone who tried to empathize.