Monday, August 10, 2020

The Rescue. By Ryan Quinn Flanagan


We were getting drunk and stoned
down in James’ basement.


While I hoarded the music player 
by the pool table that people 
fell asleep under. 


And this drunk chick brought in this cat 
from the backyard,
probably someone’s house cat that 
had gotten out, but it didn’t have any tag 
so this idiot convinced all the others that it was wild
and should be released back into nature
and even though I knew it complete bullshit,
we all piled into that van.


No one fit to drive,
but someone must have been at the wheel
or fossil fuel-based propulsion 
doesn’t work.


Driving to the outskirts of town,
the van didn’t even stop.


Just drove past this heavily forested area
with the side door opened up 
so Fluffy or whatever the hell its name was
could be tossed out and introduced 
back to the wild.
   
You realize it’s the height of bear season?
I said.
And there’s coyotes and rattlesnakes 
and starving wolf packs.


But no one wanted to hear it.
They had rescued a cat and released
it back into the wild.


Back into its natural habitat.


Then we drove back 
to that basement where the whole 
mess had started.


More drugs and drink than ever.


A slobbery hook up 
in the back room 
making a baby when 
they didn’t even 
know it.







Ryan Quinn Flanagan is a Canadian-born author residing in Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada with his wife and many bears that rifle through his garbage.  His work can be found both in print and online in such places as: Evergreen Review, The New York Quarterly,The Rye Whiskey Review, Outlaw Poetry Network, Under The Bleachers, The Dope Fiend Daily and In Between Hangovers.


Check Ryan's newest book from Marathon Books.

The World Will Not Stop Bleeding


No comments:

Post a Comment