Daniel Charland

5/13/19

Poetry Writing

Pollock

Giraffes Don’t Graze

bad backs, or awkward posture.

Giraffes don’t graze unless they can help it,

their heads far removed from the delicate And this is why, my young friend
blades,
I cannot play on the floor the way I did,
twenty feet in between, and long knobby legs
with your blocks and trucks and animal toys.
with not enough knees to ease a descent.
My body grew larger, I’ll have nothing but

pain and discomfort if— down to the ground,

At the watering hole they face the same
the long way to fall— I hunch and squat and
problem.
settle down.
Now the calves do catch an easier break
Like your toy giraffe, I’m better suited
being close to the ground, but the grown-ups
must to stay where I’m meant. But let me lift you up
to me.
spread their front legs awkward triangle-style
and

bend stiff, spread out, to reach the floor.

Instead, they prefer to munch away

leaves—seventy-five pounds a day—

where the height suits them better,

no cricks in their necks