Phoebe Lifton

Toads

  act like the men I’ve caught
kept in a glass box
at night the cicades ask him
how will he love a stranger
so deep and so wet
with only two toes
and a manner for testing cracks

The millipede wishes
it was a python
and the snake wishes
it was an eagle
the eagle blames America
for its freedom
then shoots him down
eagle is just a dumb turkey

A cultural exchange in three hours
sweat between my breasts in Nicaragua
thighs sticking to white lawn chair
my ass an American flag
parade of white toilet paper