In the micro community
on this rigid glacial remain,
a white lichen lines out the soil cycle.
He says the moss could even

“poof up three-hundred percent.”
This Mr. Smaldone turns out to have lied,
to have lied in his promise to
tell us about interconnectedness.

Listening to his lists-
this thimble berry, this
columbine, this pine marten- this
business of life in riparian habitats

is missed. Sure, the words
“meltwater,” “carrion,” and
“skyrocket gilia” tickled,
fit into her idea of interesting, but

this is disaster in his finishing.
This is ridiculous misinformation.
This is irritating history.