1
when stopped mid
jaywalk I felt
intersected. want no
fliers. want to say
I am from here. where
I wrote a 75 page paper
on pandas in 9th grade.
where I saw two in the Bronx.
learned the word “advisory”
in bio. ms. kaplan. with purple
eyeliner. texts
covered in contact.
like eyes. one
frog passed with hand
over heart. a salute
no pin prevents.

2
she with secure handshake.
rip that arm right out
the socket. it is now I know
gender. know caviar.
fertilization. sexuality.
even with animals
she needs no gloves.
a strength all her own.
biceps understated.
like lab coats.

3
remember when brian sliced
open a cow’s eye. pocketed
its insides. looked
like marble. clear.
but solid. stark.

4
I once had a choice
tangibility or electronics.
remember insides
of earthworms.
so dark. I drew the line
with feline. something
about fur. familiarity.
pandas won’t eat bamboo
covered in snow.