69. supernumerary conscience

"don't mistake/ salt for sugar" --Rupi Kaur

"I commissioned an oil painting of Barbra Streisand's dogs."

along the tundra trails
for three days of night
crawl it is your fate
moon & moon & moon smiles

ice around & ice within
ice to tell the story
after Whelk has spent its scurry
the tale remains alone

to be gathered up
stored · in outer black
it is a work of luck
it is the work of hap

"We misunderstood who the Americans were."