Late at night

A blunt nosed leopard lizard couple

burst into song from

the base of an abandoned oil rig just east of Taft

stubby faces alight with pleasure

as they pursue Puccini.

“Che gelida manina,” he croons. She swoons

— as is only appropriate, given the subject matter,

and the kit foxes guffaw because

while their tails may be long

the blunt nosed leopard lizard’s hands

are, in fact, exceedingly tiny.