Tails by Ray DiZazzo

For the lynx, a bob.
A wooly stub above the anus
shaking off the snow
on a winter slope.

Studs and mares
in southern dust corrals
stand and fly their hairy flags
dropping dung
swatting off the clouds
of gnats and flies.

And dogs?
Thickened whips
tucking under hairless bellies
coiling over, curling sideways
wagging out a figure-eight
of love.

For us nothing
more than a coccyx finger
hook-like, pointing down
in a pelvic X-ray.

But think about
the crocodiles, waving
easily through silt
and lilies

scorpions – the arc-sting
coiled overhead
monkeys
chattering bands
traveling prehensile
through the canopies
of broken shade

and down along
the evolutionary line
“pollywogs” in
reproductive cream
countless tiny trillions,
wriggling upstream
in search of eggs.

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Ray DiZazzo has published fiction, poetry and criticism in commercial and literary magazines, newspapers and books. Some those publications include: The Berkeley Poetry Review, Westways, Valley Magazine, Poetry Now, The Mid-Atlantic Review, and others. He is the recipient of the Percival Roberts Book Award and the Rhysling Award. He is also a Pushcart Prize nominee. His work has been anthologized in The Alchemy of Stars and Burning with a Vision. In addition he’s published three books of poetry: Clovin’s Head, Red Hill Press, 1976, Songs for a Summer Fly, Kenmore Press, 1978 and The Water Bulls, Granite-Collen, 2009.

His new book, The Revlon Slough, is due out in April from 2Leaf Press. Read more here: http://www.raydizazzo.com