The Saddest Thing

I thought I had seen

The saddest thing when

I saw a dead duck

On the sidewalk

Her neck a broken question mark

Asking

I thought I had seen

The saddest thing when

I saw a drowned cow

Sunk in the shallows

Her body a sack of meat and mud

Drinking

I thought I had seen

The saddest thing, then

Mimi Parker died

Dark curls gone limp

Her voice still up on a note

Singing