Looking On

harmless_little_f***

I can see it.
A little girl is tapping the glass
of the terrarium.

The iguana waves its head. Its dead,
green neck springs up and drops
a dewlap, a chin-flap, a warning flag.

The iguana wants gone. Green against
the leaf-litter, diurnal, its pink tongue
tastes the air. It darts back under the bark.

The little girl is tapping the glass, laughing.
She probably thinks the iguana
is dancing.

justam

I realize this poem is about missing the point rather than about a pet's death, but I wanted to say that in my experience my kids have always been dramatically aware that their pets are losing life...they start to notice it ahead of time. They feel it in the air. :eek:

harmless_little_f***

justam wrote:

I realize this poem is about missing the point rather than about a pet's death, but I wanted to say that in my experience my kids have always been dramatically aware that their pets are losing life...they start to notice it ahead of time. They feel it in the air. :eek:

Wow. In my mind the iguana was only anxious, panicking and then running to hide. But yes, it could also be dying. Thanks for adding a new dimension.

justam

harmless_little_f*** wrote:

Wow. In my mind the iguana was only anxious, panicking and then running to hide. But yes, it could also be dying. Thanks for adding a new dimension.