Escuintles
Have you met the dogs
In the De Young Museum?
You can see them
Behind glass
In the Mesoamerica
Room; it’s almost like
A pet shop.
Olmec, I think, they’re
Like chihuahuas
But plump,
The color of dust.
My favorite
Is scratching
At his fleas.
Another is lounging
Just like every lazy
Dog you’ve ever seen
On a hot, hot day.
But this fellow’s been
Lounging since before Cortes
Came, maybe long before.
Study their faces.
I swear you can see
Which ones lick
And which ones bite.
Written By: Jason Szydlik
About the Author: Jason Szydlik studied poetry at City College.
Forum Literary Magazine 