[on my birthday we woke to a flood]
by Eric Schweiker

On my birthday we woke to a flood    a chaise lounge, plastic plants, some caged chickens floated below the window    they were little islands at high tide    and the bridge pulled up its skirt to dance in the waves

that night I bought a trunk full of whirly-birds and placed them on the shore   

the river is my wound    I carry a duffle bag of airborne disease    if I draw you a map will you find my surgical equipment?    it is in a picnic basket at the bottom of the sea