To Adam

To Adam
—en medias res


We took prayer requests when Cathy
asked for the third week in a row whether God
would bring back her lost cat from the woods
only to be told that you
my dear Adam
named a cat a cat

that’s when there were lots
of cat prayers and sick grandpas and scratched knees
before we were all atheists come to hail and flaunt our individuality

it reminds me of how a giraffe gelding
plops out of the womb like a shit does
congealing the dirt with the slop
yet nevertheless is expected to soon become a
standing walking around all over the place
piece of shit

the pastor calls it childhood
the Sunday school teacher success
the parents love

Cathy turned out alright I guess
I saw her at the zoo with her children
teaching that a tiger is a type of cat and saying you
my dear Adam
named a cat a cat.