counting zebras

she tells me

about the zebras in Africa,

that they can

run swiftly,

up to thirty-five miles

per hour.

their stripes are like

fingerprints, she says,

used as camouflage

from predators,

no two patterns

are alike.

i haven't thought

about zebras

in such a long time.

maybe as a child

at the zoo,

but now

i can't fall asleep

at night

without them on my

mind.