About stray cats

 Stray cats

Come with big eyes 

Hungry maws 

Perfecting the technique 

That leads you to lay out 

The red carpet of kibble 

Bits of meat 

Entice you to work

Work so hard 

To win them over 

And like the cats they are

Arrogantly dismissive 

Of your efforts 

You think the cat is in the bag

But all you have are claw marks 

And bite wounds 

Instead, turn that energy 

To a dog 

A steady companion

Who is applying for 

Exactly that job 

Loyal, intelligent 

Partner, buddy 

Dogs, they will meet your eyes

Gaze into your soul 

Celebrate life 

With you 

“With” in a way cats don’t 

Understand 

And don’t want to

(…not about the obvious)

Giddy

 Curious patter as

My pulse picks up

Pink in my cheeks 

Smile begins curling 

At the corner of my mouth

Cautious

Carefully cautious 

But surprised by 

This spark 

Of energy 

And willingness to risk 

Giddy with

Possibility 

Not about you

 Carly sang 

You’re so vain

And I bet he did

Think her song was 

About him

But I know what she meant 

Because my muse is back

And none of this is 

Actually about you 

It’s about cleaning out

The cobwebs 

Sweeping dust bunnies

From under the bed

Spring cleaning 

My heart, my mind 

Setting the ducks 

In a row

Then admiring them there

Rearranging furniture

Making space for 

What’s to come 

Singing while I work 

You are also so vain

But this is 

Most definitely 

Not about you 

Observing your karma

There are moments

I think about you

All alone 

Surveying the damage 

Bombed out relationships 

Devastating losses 

Wondering how it feels

To know it was you

Who pulled the trigger 

Pressed the button

Blasted away 

Trust, respect 

Integrity

Destroying

Companionship 

Warm touches 

Even salty tears

Because around you now

Sits desolation 

A poison cloud 

Is the air you breathe

Do you wonder 

If your other lies 

Will catch up to you?

Your racist slurs

Your angry stabbings

At friends and neighbors 

Every green thing

You killed

While you cry about the 

Unfairness of life

It’s all out to get you

Or so you say

When I do think about you

It’s in pity

The love is gone

The longing, too

My thoughts are not 

Wistful 

Because your 

Missiles were often

Aimed at me 

You sought to 

Use my vulnerability

And my kindness 

As proving grounds 

For your artillery 

But my karma 

Protected me 

Still I tried to help you 

As I winced in pain

Bandaged the wounds 

You made 

Before my escape 

I’m safe now, but you?

You are the victim

Of your own karma 

The sum of your words

Your deceit

Those selfish ways 

Have anchored you there

In the misery you created

Alone, angry and crying “why me?” 

Railing against the mess 

You made 

Forlorn 

About Fire

 Striking flint

To start a fire 

On a windy day 

Takes patience 

Determination 

A fragile tendril 

Of smoke

Shield it 

Blow gentle

Slow breath

No rush 

Feed it tinder

Bit by bit

Good things 

Grow slowly 

Add the kindling 

Little twigs at first 

Embers glow 

A stick, a bigger stick

Flames rise

Lay on the logs

Bask in the warmth

Of a solid fire

A fire that

Well-tended 

Will keep us 

Warm 

For many 

Many 

Nights 

Happiness again

 When the air clears

And the dust settles

When you have walked

Far enough away

That the smell of deceit 

And anger 

And all those other 

Nasty parts 

Aren’t even on the horizon 

They are 

Past

The rising action 

In a story 

That’s over now 

After a doozy of a

Denouement 

The protagonist won

(Hey, that’s you!)

Won back your dignity

Won back your joy

Wiser, singed a bit

But your heart is still

On your sleeve 

No one will destroy

Your capacity to love 

The resolution was

Sublime 

The villain is defeated 

Dead to you

While you are 

Wholly intact

And you’ve shut the book

Walked away 

And found 

Happiness again