his uniform was the color of gumboots

as long as gumboots are green

this forest ranger was in a predicament

as the red spread redder and wider across his shirt

and his insides protruded like sourdough

the storefront of his glasses clouded over

he heard the bear scuff across the porch and away

Carl found the cradle of his elbow and rested

and dreamt of leftover rhubarb pie