White Tails, Minks, and Hamsters

Cervid, mustelid, and whatever
The hell a hamster is—a rodent
You can’t get drunk? Tennis for disease.

Species known to contract viruses
From humans and then to hand them back,
Meanwhile perhaps a bit mutated.

You serve it to them. They return serve.
Very similar to your ideas,
Of course, your notions and beliefs.

Your us, too, now that we mention it.
But poetry isn’t a disease,
Is it? And languages have remained

Politely confined to your species.
Imagine otherwise. Imagine
If we got out and started talking

Back to you out of the mouths of deer
And mink, out of the squeaks of hamsters
Stirred from lengthy sleep by Everclear.