A scream evolved to scrape DNA, low to the ground
and right against the foundation. You know
you should investigate but tangled in blankets
sink back to sleep. When the snow melts,
you’ll find North America’s only marsupial
turned inside out at the top of her range.
Not hibernators, they unkink themselves
from culverts and come looking for a meal.
Placing her spine in a plastic bag you’ll
recall her encounter with another of her
kind at the compost bin. They advanced
toward constellated coffee and icy fruit
rinds from different corners of the yard.
When their noses touched each fell over
backward dead to the world. It was no act.
Through binoculars you could see it as clearly
as if it were happening in your own house.