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Animal!
- Southern Illinois University Press
- Chapter
- Additional Information
Animal! Themeanderingcentipedeunwisely surfacedasIwateredmyficus. Twistingbelowmyshadow, IsawittrytoeludeTheHand, fleshyCessnawithnoplanstopullup, instrumentthatearlierpassedabrush throughmydaughter’slonghair. Howquicklytheheartgoeshaywire, fist-sizedpacifistpumpfallingsuddenly fromasleepyhey-nonny-nonny-hum tomachineofgrimintent— spiritofguillotine,quiet scytheinirrevocablefreefall— asifitweremysurvivalatstake. Howterritorial,howabsurd! myover-eagerheartboomingtribally, deaftoallbutitsownredsound, murderous,urgent, allrationalthoughtlost asalonestripemightbeontheflank ofazebraastheherdthunderspast. Understand—Iwasdeterminedtokill thatscout,thatleggyinterloper, thoughitseemsridiculous— Ivieforspacewithabug? Itwasugly.Threatening.And howinventiveeachcanbe, cloakedincamouflage,imperceptibly aggressiveasariverparasite followingastreamofpee tothesmallopeningofitshost— eachurgeofbug,bacteria,beast thepure,unadulteratedwilltobe. Nothingpersonal. ...