shoe gum
by t. zoEy benally

“Do you throw your gum
out the window?” he implores
“Uuh—No. I usually swallow.”
I stammer, unsure of his motive

Double agent spy vs spy
Search for secrets linked
to missing lynx
cage bar vacation to unknown faces

He never spoils parking lot walkscapes
casual flick of greyed-pink
Frees them back to the wild
far from all cemented trails

Hot pink mottled clay
imbedded in canyons
sandstone wind sheers
hard plastic tread corners
gum belongs on the highway