gossip
her nose flares wide
sucking in what clings
lily-clump news—
Shadow was here,
Fluff and Ricky, too
when I nudge her along
snout buried deep
she stiffens her legs
immovable
55 pounds
demand to stay
sighing, I wait
my breath catches
wren with a flapping insect
settles on her hatchlings
breakfast arriving
stills their peeps—
wouldn’t have noticed
without Jazz needing gossip