Carré Kwong Callaway

Animal Madness
(Somewhere in Mexico)

You washed my dirty feet
I said you’re like Jesus
Who was painted on the door of the room
In bright colors like the feathers of parrots

We talked about your mother’s health
And your mental illness(es)
And animal madness
Like compulsive parrots that
Mate for life and other
Tragic cases of avian behavior
(Problems with the flock can spell death)
(For a parrot)

We attempted to distract ourselves
To paralyze our gums with (cheap) blow
But we couldn’t get numb like we used to
Be able to feel nothing
(How sad)

And mosquito bites got in the way of fucking
I was too busy compulsively scratching my legs
Like a
Meth-head incessantly tearing at skin
To self-mutilate (while killing time) until death
To the fragile body of a bird