Why Say That
why say that
under
what authority
do you mean
seeing
who sees
a lifelike figure
struck by
lightning or coincidence
a man
open
in his pockets
in an empty room
outside
seen from the inside
is complex
outside
looking towards the inside
is simple
~~
what penetrates him
a nice day?
with a wave with a waste
of his hands
folderollicles away
down
Mr. janitor
jingles
desperate
I’ll monster you with my
ruff
rough ruff
~~
I find myself
smiling
cat in sun
pleasure
like a little animal
comes up
like a big animal
chin glistening
yellow in the day
blue at night
Copyright © 2025 by Fiona Templeton. Originally published in Poem-a-Day on July 22, 2025, by the Academy of American Poets.