First Trip to the Zoo

1970s, sunny at a local zoo.

She held a box of popcorn

about to grab a few kernels 

with her tiny hands.

Her father looked like he’s come straight from work—

polyester button-down shirt tussled

and his pager,

perhaps from day of saving women

at Boston City Hospital dying 

of infection from back-alley abortions, 

bent hangers dangling from their insides. 

Her father held her

standing on the ledge 

of the gorilla enclosure

to keep her from falling

with hands full of death.