You talk to him
his eyes swivel
like two chairs aimed
at some movie
playing the private
showing room
of his skull.
You wonder if perhaps
you have a speaking part
but know you don’t
so you say anything
wild trying to snap him
back. You say
“elephant is a delicacy
in the Congo” &
“I’ve never killed anyone.”
His reply comes
without subtitles.
He says “elephants
are vegetarians”
& “once I cured
this autistic child
by carrying him to the end
of a fishing dock
& not throwing him off” &
“yes, that’s my real name
—like Elvis only
with a ‘D’ in front
and spelled
kind of different.
– Pat McKinnon