The Zoo Man

The Zoo Man
by me(whatever)
to Lemon Elegy

The zoo man,
a step away from the front door
handing out stuffed animals.
To us, who were before a decade
guiltily grabbed and snatched
not knowing more than ourselves.

It was awhile ago,
a childhood memory stuffed in a box.
The giraffe and the small dog
put away in my closet.
They no longer smell of the smoke
the zoo man used to breathe.

His picture put away;
we were all waiting.
A marvelous, casual Santa Claus,
forgotten in the blink of time.
Before your white flowers,
all I can remember
is that one memory.