i've seen an animal
an animal of a certain maturity, a certain age
its eyes are dark, i can’t read its expression
i'm thinking about gods, men and i tuck the animal’s hair behind its ears
i zip up its jacket, to cover its face behind the collar; to hide it underneath the brim of its hat
i’m thinking about the light that is coming in through the blinds and i can’t help but to look away from it for a second
i’m afraid it’ll run off before i look again (it has before)
but i look out the window, at a cold parking lot on a milwaukee night
the animal is still there when i turn back

it doesn’t turn its back until i do