heat

 

 

walking on the dusty county road

this hot, dry evening, i came upon

a possum, very young and very dead

 

unmarred, not a victim of vehiclecide

rather, something more insidious

being perfectly formed in every way

 

its little possum tail curled up just so

fur dark and sleek, face unpossumly cute

country roads rarely leave the dead

 

in pristine form, untouched by hawk's

talons, coyote's teeth, vulture's beak

yet, the story was there, plain to see

 

 





Poetry by jim The PoetBay support member heart!
Read 111 times
star mini Editors' choice
Written on 2026-09-01 at 03:28

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arquious The PoetBay support member heart!
Roadkill is everywhere there are roads and even then, on dirt tracks and nature paths. Always felt ambiguously remorseful on witnessing the sight. The heat does not help either.
2026-09-08


Editorial Team The PoetBay support member heart!
Your poem has been chosen to be featured on the home page of PoetBay. Thank you for posting on our poetry website!
2026-09-07


Ann Wood The PoetBay support member heart!
AWW, SUCH SAD, POOR POSSUM, DIED FROM THE VERY HOT WEATHER.
2026-09-05


Sameen The PoetBay support member heart!
Unsettling yet quietly powerful. A fine poem as any of your other ones.
2026-09-01


Jamsbo Rockda The PoetBay support member heart!
Another victim of climate change, unfortunately. Or that is how I read it. Animals do not have the luxury of modernity to help them as we do. The fact that other animals have not touched the carcass makes it even more worrying. The natural order of things is disrupted. I wish that those in power who may be able to do something would read this fine piece.
2026-09-01