The Sportsmen's Emporium

For William W. Abbott, Market
Street, Philadelphia, and his trout:
My mama done told me to watch it;
I know what you're all about.

That was random, said
The physicist angling
To catch Kokanee fish in his head.
The anthem, the stars spangling

Heartfelt simplicity,
The pointed leaf
In red and white duplicity,
The comfort, the grief,

These are all to me
As the chipmunk on the porch
Last month, the sweet,
The striped, the hungry poor.

No, I know.
You lie to me
Because you know I know
You want my taxidermy.