this morning— more alarm
clock autocracy– I woke up
with antlers— piercing a fog–
on the pillow—magnificent tangle
of dark bone— the strain of neck–
muscles rising— the quick of forest
breath— slick ungulate tongue– taint
of musk– heavy rain invading a bed-
room— no one gasped or whispered
words— not even Igor— wet snout
deep in cat-food mush— the wife
on the yoga mat—her tight stomach
crunching chakras—typical mantra
from kids– poached scrambled fried
eggs— toast—I could feel the vomit—
a moss– back of throat– strange sound
beyond percolators— silence of grass
in head—my wrack growing—awkward
in its rut—the couch and kitchen table
overturned—an elk lost in the suburbs
last year— it was webbed feet—
at the dentist’s— an exoskeleton
in fall— at the gym— for my birth-
day— at the spa— Komodo-dragon
tail— in winter— toad-skin— in bank
queue— in spring—at the mall—pipes
of skylark—a month ago— dorsal fin—
in the community pool— the summer
ended— lips prokaryotic— the gas
station fill-up— next year— nebulae in
eyes— I could wake— outside neighbor-
hood school— or hospital— or treatment
plant— legs not legs— juniper roots