Little Prizes

while in traffic 

on an L.A. freeway,

in the fast lane,

going zero, I look out

and see a pigeon

it has but one leg,

and pecks with vigor

at the delight of a

strewn piece of bread

its gentle eyes connect

with mine

soft, pure

and this moment

shall be tucked away

with the others

that have been

gifted to me

solely for 

paying attention

Mathieu Cailler is the author of seven books: a novel, two short story collections, two volumes of poetry, and two children’s titles. His stories, poems, and essays have been featured in over one hundred publications such as Wigleaf, the Saturday Evening Post, and the Los Angeles Times. Cailler has garnered numerous awards for his writing, including a Pushcart Prize; a Readers’ Favorite Award; and accolades from the Paris, Los Angeles, and New England Book Festivals. Connect with him on social media @writesfromla or visit mathieucailler.com.