My cousin kept me and his little brother 
saved me from our uncle’s

pit bull, then spent seven years 
in prison for his set.

Every other word 
he said was 
blood.

 

Uncle Nuggie showed us
how to make a BB rattle 
inside a squirrel.

Two small holes, 
enter and exit.

All summer I wondered 
what leaves the body?
 

From River Hymns (Copper Canyon Press, 2017) by Tyree Daye. Copyright © 2017 by Tyree Daye. Used with the permission of the author.