trout

when she passed the chinese restaurant

Jade Sunouchi

she noticed the diners
watching two fighting fishes slam each other

between the eyes above rows of razor teeth
they worked their heads like fists

again and again they knocked their skulls hard
until one pushed the other against the glass

the fight ended with both unbruised
the tank not cracked unlike the glass on the street

in front of an old man who hobbled
his yellow-stained teeth matched clothes that hung loosely

on skin that folded over bones
his arm bled unprotected

she saw the skin on his calloused hands
wrinkle like the dry leaves scattered on the curb