the pigeon
and the propeller
the pigeon wins this one
this made up race
because she's clever
well
she's closer
to wherever
she's closed
in on the heartwood
exposed
and the scrimshaw
the bark stripped
not saw
some lignin metabolism
waiting
for whatever
like the entrails
and the dust
and all that careful framing
softer focus
waiting for input
pressure
other things said
then charcoal
range ignition trip
blind groping for the gas knob
hissing in the dark