endangered

if you mean to discuss loss
do not save end for last
nor begin with red
which will stain all that follows
feather and scale
horn and hoof
tender your attentions
on anger and apathy
the danger of greed
agile rapists in Eve’s garden
tusk and shell
tooth and fin
the end not cliff but cascade
drop upon drop of inattention
the rat in rationalize
chewing at laziness, eyes red
flight and slither
burrow and plod
yes even here past the red
signal light, pull on the brake
the rhino already
has two feet on the rail.

© j.i. kleinberg