13.02.03 - 6:33 p.m.

the gorillas at the zoo were huddled right next
to the glass, leaning their shiny coarse
backs against it picking their broad, flat noses,
avoiding the rain and a little girl
stood next to me, stepped forward confident
and began signing to them, h - e - i - d - i
i - l - o - v - e - y - o - u , paused
expectantly and placed a tiny hand where they
could match it finger for finger, palm
for palm. the window clouded around the warmth
of her communication, lingered after
her mother called and she ran away.
eating lunch, two hours later i started crying, sobbed
someday she will be so disappointed.