Koala Holds Up Traffic

AMANDA ANASTASI

Koala Holds Up Traffic

Ineptly, he moves to the middle road line
with the tap of claws not made for unyielding

road. He stops and stares at the benign queue
of delayed four-wheel drives and the drum

of doors as families emerge from growling engines
to point, coo and exclaim like elated circus punters.

A policeman and ranger carefully angle and steer
him from the highway and the sounds of photo snaps

and Facebook Live narrations. Step by languid step,
he is positioned beyond the fog of tar and concrete

for his return to the retreating forest. The people
re-enter their cars, turn on playlists and continue.

© Amanda Anastasi, 2020.