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.