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the son has a toy gun
chasing the spaniel
in the afternoon
dusk
while the father puts together
a shelf for the third time
sweating in the garage

they abused themselves

the neighbors
throw a birthday party
and a balloon
strays over the fence
briefly becoming
a target for the boy’s
popgun
before fading away into the
sky

is the mother on muscle relaxers
or has she been doing magic
with the wine bottles

she stumbles out
picks up the son
takes the toy gun
into the garage
where the father is fixing
the same shelf for the third time
and shoots him in the back
causing him to jump
and laugh

she lights a cigarette

I know what you mean
when you talk about home