by Michael Estabrook
Gigantopithecus imaginationus
Bigfoot, Sasquatch, Mapinguari, The Tall Man, Yiren,
Batutut, Hibagon, Hairy Wild Man, Orang Pendek,
Mogollon Monster, Swamp Ape, Yowie, Himalayan Yeti,
or simply the good old Abominable Snowman —
call us what you will but doubt us only
if you dare because we are everywhere.
We screech and shriek, break your windows
steal and eat your hogs and goats,
sheep and chickens, make thunderous
tree knocks and quiet nests of leaf litter and twigs.
We’re not ghosts, vampires or zombies
werewolves, bogeymen or Neanderthals.
We’re Bigfoots damn it! Proud intelligent humanoids
just like you even though
you can’t find us and never will — Ha Ha —
we leave only our footprints and tufts of hair behind
to tantalize you so you bet we’re out there all right
somewhere in your darkest night
and we’re on our way to your front door!
Michael Estabrook has been publishing his poetry in the small press since the 1980s. He has published over 20 collections, a recent one being The Poet’s Curse, A Miscellany(The Poetry Box, 2019).
