B.O.H.

From a bag of hungers

he removed another bag. Inside

      it, a burlap sack. 

Inside that, a paper 

grocery bag. And in that

the withered scrotum of a

plastic one. Inside of which 

was a drawstring rucksack; 

  and in that

a ziplock bag. A ziplock 

clear enough that, if

       lifted to the light

its contents can look back. 

       But standing and 

squinting isn't the same

as interrogating with hands, 

so that also gets opened. 

Inside, a felt bag 

         the size

of a swollen thumb--the kind

kids keep their marbles in. 

But inside it, none of that.

A leather satchel. 

A lot of literal yanking 

pulls it free, and what's there

but a purse to hang 

on one's shoulder. 

But which shoulder?

Then it's all there, the flat

eureka--descendants 

    of bags of hunger

rarely come with instructions.

           At best

the ones you read into them.