D a w n  C o r r i g a n 

Baiting Bats

As a boy he’d catch bats

on a fishing pole baited with cheese.

In the deep of evening

he’d reel his catch in

then put a box with an eyehole

cut out over the bat

and look for a while.

When he was done

he’d untangle the bat

from the cheese and release it

throwing it into the air

where it would flounder

a moment before righting itself

and flapping back into the night.