we used to ride deer to school
before our moms bought minivans
in every color like nylon tights and told us
that “salmon berries aren’t lunches,”

so we had to bring beetles and
crayons in 24-packs. and the deer

all stood outside classrooms
looking vague and smelling like
seafood with the eyes still staring.

they told us it was a
good thing when
our stomachs moaned

and i believed them,
for a while.