She is in the kitchen I can

​hear her screaming
at her sister in the backyard
dragging on a clove
cigarette stroking her cockatoo,
a rescue cockatoo that won’t fly
eats raisins and talks
it says Pete is a dumb fucker
it says Oh boy oh man.
 
She screams at her sister
Won’t you please
I’m begging you
don’t make me
ask again. She heaves
an unopened can
of tomato paste out
the screen door where the
screen is torn off.
It arcs over the lawn and hits
her sister square in the ribs.
Her sister
 
screams back god
dammit I fuckin hate you
the bird jumps
from her shoulder to the ground
can't fly and picks
its armpit with the pointy
beak tip not an armpit
not a wingpit maybe
an underwing
I can’t stop
wondering
what to call it while

she is still screaming
at her sister who charges
for the back door intent
I think on retribution for the sauce
can attack. Stay
away from me I told you
I told you so many times.
You fucking canned me you
twat. Her sister slaps
her face open palm leaving
red fingerstreaks. She cries
while her sister remains indignant
until they break and collapse
on each others’ shoulders
faces in the armpits
wet sobbing until
she shoves her sister away.
You stupid cow I hate you
go fuck yourself you whore.
And her sister
goes out for the bird.