Cool zoo--
dry ground--
the kind meerkats treasure,
perfect for tunnels to escape sunlight,
and reside in--
be a part of--
whatever it is that's holding everything up.
It was December in Florida,
and the cold hung silent in the air;
as if someone spoke, heaven's branch might snap,
and snow would fall all at once,
and cover animal exhibits.
Christmas lights--
tiny suns,
each thinking its gravity formed the center of the universe,
connected by this green vein that seems to connect everything.
I watch my partner exhale,
my partner's breath resembling snow,
and somewhere in the distance,
we can hear a hyena cackling at my joke untold.
The first date I had with the person who is now my spouse, we went to the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa for their nighttime holiday lights display. At the gate, the ticketer told us the park was empty. "No one came tonight." And asked if we wanted tickets for a different night. We said no, and explored the zoo alone in the darkness while all the animals slept.
