by Brad Liening

The trick is containment.

I’m thinking: cancer,

zombies, fire.

Keeping the river

within its banks

and away from us.

The river is hard

to get out of

once you’re in it.

I’m thinking:

tall pine bending,

parabolic

under invisible weight.

Going up

in a flash.

Zombies are

as frightening as anything

else in this world.

You’re miles

downriver

before you

even realize

you’re in the river.

The galaxy: dust,

gas, a couple cells

dividing in wet brains.