i watched the squirrel dart out
trying to reach the playground
the only piece of grass and tree
we had left for it in the city
only to be struck
killed by an indifferent machine

i sat stunned, for hardly a second
before the car behind me
beeped impatiently
(places to be)

what is this story
we choose to live in
where a senseless death
is so commonplace
as to be an inconvenience