corn pops & unexpected drops

Jen Schneider

yellow kernels bounce in warm milk. plastic spoons press & pulse. fish food floats on tank water.
tank the dog rolls in spools of sun. criss cross applesauce. everything on the floor.

goodbye mr. finny, a child whispers. all eyes, including tank’s, on the tank. fin’s bloated belly up.
spoons drop. corn pops plop. conversations linger at the intersection of here & there. then &
now. when & why.  

plots twist both time & tender stomachs. not all questions have answers. not all answers have
origins. kitchen hands remain occupied. prepare for grab n go consumption. 

tears travel time & paths of soil-stained soles. seeds scatter as silence stirs amidst honey bees &
pollen pairings. palms cradle yellow corn pops. knuckles yellow.

mr. finny finally found freedom, the children whisper. all eyes, including tank’s, on time.

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Jen Schneider is an educator who lives, works, and writes in small spaces throughout Pennsylvania.

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