there is a giant puma

without any legs

head or tail

sleeping 

at the south entrance

of the bridge 

overlooking the creek

I know it is sleeping

because it expands

and contracts 

its mighty diaphragm
dreaming the calmest dream

I know it is a puma

because there

is a decal of a puma

on its heaving stomach 

lashing out in a way

I could never 

imagine this puma doing

it never bothers anyone

no one ever bothers it

there is a giant puma

without any legs

head or tail

and sometimes 

when I cannot sleep

the decal is pushed 

from the inside out

as if hiding 

a tear in its hide 

and little pumas crawl 

out wearing bonnets

and aprons and 

beards without mustaches

and they begin hoeing 

in the field around

the giant puma

they plant seeds

and ride in tiny carriages

and none of them 

speak louder 

than a whisper 

not even the even

tinier puma 

children

chasing each other

in circles around the giant

puma without any legs

head or tail 

sleeping

at the south entrance

of the bridge by the creek