Recycling Process

A sack of garbage serves a whole community. Last night the neighbors put it out, last night raccoons clawed it apart and when they left, the all-night outdoor cats picked through, at dawn the first dogs given liberty. When they were whistled home, one grackle, then a flock, and squirrels, crows and pigeons raided in between. Rain dissolved the paper. When the garbage truck grinds down our way, only aging grapefruit rinds, a well-licked tuna tin remain, and bits of plastic bag blow about, catch in trees, clog sewer drains.