Zoological Garden
       

—cement frogs with faulty faucets did me in;
the peacocks screaming in protest.
            A day at the very small zoo.
Siberian tiger, listless, behind its chain-link cage,
as if removing bars made things humane.
            As if tossing a red rubber ball through
the gate could make a life lively.
Black bear, silver fox, lynx. Dry frogs,
spigots lodged in their mouths—
            always lodged in their mouths—
unable to quench cracked basins.

Copyright © 2009 Suzanne Frischkorn All rights reserved
from Girl on a Bridge
Main Street Rag Publishing Company
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission