Open Throat

by Henry Hoke

I can’t tell how long I’ve been walking away walking not running because I can’t see what’s right in front of me anymore and can’t see myself I could be something else I could be a deer or even a person but not a bird a bird could rise above the smoke I can’t sing my lungs are full of ugly I look down and there are no paws any sec I could step off a cliff I think I’ve always felt this way the smoke makes it clear