West of Wichita, large, brown, mud barnacles
form close together along the outer sides of bridges
with dark open mouths facing traffic
No ocean waves lap or plunge around the bridges
just the constant surge of wind, dust, exhaust, rain
Clustered birds’ nests, glued to the cement
sheltered from the elements
Land versions of the real creatures
attached to beach rocks, piers, and ship bottoms
TR
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