invitation

invitation

he winks his one good eye

the other, crooked

filmy, false

You know we chased that coyote

a good five miles

in the pickup

and he crosses his arms

over mother-of-pearl

pocket snaps

the back room

he has filled with guns each a

blue-black story

he'll drop into your hands

unexpectedly

Finally cornered him

in a windbreak but I'll tell

you they're tricky—

gotta respect that

he laughs quickly

always set on full automatic

you oughta come with us

next time

it's a good chase

he says while his bad eye strays

somewhere out the window

a dispassioned accomplice

But once he's trapped

and in your sights

he nods slowly

moving in

leveling the barrel

of his singular pupil

he'll lay down like a beat

dog