RECYCLING PROCESS
Elisavietta Ritchie
A sack of garbage serves a whole community.
Last evening neighbors put it out,
last night raccoons clawed it apart and when
they left, the all-night outdoor cats
picked through, at dawn the first dogs
given liberty. When they were whistled home,
one starling, then a flock, took over. Crows,
squirrels and pigeons raided in between.
Rain dissolves the paper. By the time
the garbage truck grinds down our way,
only aging grapefruit rinds, a well-licked
tuna tin remain, and bits of plastic bag
blow about, catch in trees, clog sewer drains.
