"don't"

the son said to his father
tears streaming down his face
as he flapped the pillowcase open
it felt like home

he dropped the puppies in
tongues stuck out
teasing all the school children
on the playground
tied up the open end
tighter than any shoe
or fist

he elbowed the door open
afternoon sidled in
shook its jacket
and took a seat
next to the mass of pillowcase

"don't"

his boots led him out
sunlight over one shoulder
puppies over the other
he thought they felt like marshmallows

his son followed him
tripping over the color of autumn
reciting something that sounded
like a song
it was coughing

"don't"

they came to the river
with the colorless fish
swimming and constant movement
stars in orbit
in deep space without a bottom

he slung the pillowcase off
his back
homes and marshmallows
yip-yapping all at once

"don't"

he let go
hovering for a second
like a ball of ice floating up
into upside-down space

"don't"

his wife woke up somewhere
mid-kiss with another man