CJ Muchhala

at the field station in the cloud forest        
 for Nathan

palm-sized bat caught
and held in a mist net
filaments— almost—
of air

untangled by gentle hands
and placed in a flight cage

its brief confusion

revived by sugar water in handmade flowers
the bat reveals its feeding secrets,
is freed at dawn

now disguised by bark and leaf
it hangs
asleep

does it dream
of an alternate life
cupped in the warmth
of a palm?

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CJ Muchhala’s poems have appeared in numerous print and online journals, anthologies, art exhibits, on CD-ROM and audio CD, in the chapbook Traveling Without a Map, and have been nominated for the Best of Net and Pushcart awards. She lives in Shorewood, Wisconsin.

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