Brian Rihlmann

PUSILLANIMOUS

there are times
yes, oftentimes...
when the soul is small—
tiny as the boy
kicked down the stairs
for the sin of being literally less
in this material world

ask the squirrel
and the sparrow
about their darting eyes
and their secretive ways

ask the boy
why he loves
those dumb ninja movies
so much

why he dreams
of those graceful assassins
moving invisibly, noiselessly
through the night

cloaked in black
deadly swords gleaming
in dark scabbards

how they vanish
before their enemies
in a haze of smoke
in hallways...locker rooms...
wherever

he’d love to be able
to do that