Toys New
︎︎︎ Annabelle Williams
︎ Mar 29, 2026
I look at animals for sale
On craigslist, peruse various
Basements lined with snake tanks,
Teacup dachshunds, and conures
Whose rehomings range in urgency
And reason; too noisy at night,
Downsizing, dominant male with high
Prey drive, not fixed and needs
Shots, otherwise evicted on Monday.
This search started when my roommate
Watched a neighbor’s cockatiel for a week
And the bird loved Playboi Carti so much
I’d cry as he bobbed for his own reflection
In a plastic mirror. I considered myself
Caring enough to stumble ethically
Into possession of a rare pet, except
I’ve instead gamified guessing
Zip codes and their corresponding number
Of Cane Corso puppies, teetering
Towards the type of person who might
Travel a great distance for gray market
Colostrum or advertise escargot snails
Breeding like rabbits. Apparently
Marmosets love marshmallows,
Information I gained not from craigslist
But YouTube. Once I saw a video of
Sugar gliders chirping over cheap
Frozen nectar. I used to chew sap
From a spruce tree planted to distinguish
Property lines. Maybe someday
I’ll spend a divorce swapping
Axolotls like Halloween candy.
My fridge magnet celebrates
The world’s oldest living lynx:
Happy 22nd Birthday, Bonnie.
On craigslist, peruse various
Basements lined with snake tanks,
Teacup dachshunds, and conures
Whose rehomings range in urgency
And reason; too noisy at night,
Downsizing, dominant male with high
Prey drive, not fixed and needs
Shots, otherwise evicted on Monday.
This search started when my roommate
Watched a neighbor’s cockatiel for a week
And the bird loved Playboi Carti so much
I’d cry as he bobbed for his own reflection
In a plastic mirror. I considered myself
Caring enough to stumble ethically
Into possession of a rare pet, except
I’ve instead gamified guessing
Zip codes and their corresponding number
Of Cane Corso puppies, teetering
Towards the type of person who might
Travel a great distance for gray market
Colostrum or advertise escargot snails
Breeding like rabbits. Apparently
Marmosets love marshmallows,
Information I gained not from craigslist
But YouTube. Once I saw a video of
Sugar gliders chirping over cheap
Frozen nectar. I used to chew sap
From a spruce tree planted to distinguish
Property lines. Maybe someday
I’ll spend a divorce swapping
Axolotls like Halloween candy.
My fridge magnet celebrates
The world’s oldest living lynx:
Happy 22nd Birthday, Bonnie.
Annabelle Williams is a writer and farmer from Maine. She currently lives in Brooklyn.