I receive like those cheeks
of captive pufferfish
children poke fun at
while adults fish for crabs

greeting anyone with an open mouth,
those locals – calmed and drunk
on strawberry coconut water
swishing at the harshest inclines
against the sides of cracked red cups

they blink as I stretch my neck
to find a pigeon’s story
in terracotta planters
I sometimes assumed were homes

Cat No. 51 of the 500 Cats Project