Not Shroedinger’s cat

She was treated much better than that.

Denise saw a mouse in her home.

Did she run screaming?

Nope, went to a shelter and got a cat.

Now, she told that cat

No hugs, cuddles or petting

You have one job.

I expect you to do it well.

Catch those mice

Running around this house.

Cats will not obey

Any command that doesn’t suit them.

But that cat

Was one damn happy cat. 

She had a job she liked.

Faithfully moused,

playing with them to her heart’s content.

Denise didn’t mind as long as the mouse

Was dead in the end.

Even if, 

Occasionally,

she had to hit them dead with a hammer.

Denise moved from the city.

There were no more mice.

The cat was old,

Loved sleeping in the sun.

When death came

She wasn’t cuddled or fussed over or pet.

Without pity

She was taken for that shot of death.

As she drifted away

She dreamt of chasing mice

And her friend 

with a hammer.

July 2021

The “zero words” in the corner is due to making this sketch on Pages, primarily a writing app. I thought it appropriate here.

I’ve been playing around with abstraction and composition by using found and household objects. The feet added an unexpected element. Yes, I’m standing on my work table.

*Tenkan is a martial arts move whereby one moves to a position behind the opponent in order to gain control of the situation.

(part of the True Stories series)

awake before sunrise

i step outside the sanctuary

of my parents’ house to

a sky full of dark with

pale moon and

two single stars unclouded

by wishes of opal clouds,

air cool through my hair.

[Just found this in the intricate maze of my computer. Must have been written several years ago, before my father died.]

(A poem to be read by two people whereby each person reads a column. Spaces denote where one speaker is silent while the other speaks.)

Snap! The light went on. “What type of pet are you looking for?”

Fred grinned at Sam,“Cute.”

Sam squeezed Fred’s hand.“Ferocious enough to scare burglars away.”

“Griffin?,” suggested Sally. 

Sam watched it flutter. “Too many feathers.”

“How about a kraken?”

“Cleaning the tank would be onerous.”

Sally pointed, “This one doesn’t need much care, just a few crumbs. And it’s guaranteed to scare people.”

The brown creature waved its six legs and wiggled two antennae. Sam and Fred’s eyes met.

“Gorgeous,” Sam whispered in awe. 

Fred put his arm around Sam. “A cockroach is perfect.”

pit pit patter pour

rain rain galore 

may it rain some more

petals metals betals

tee tee whoosh

pit pit patter pour

rain slows

sun shows

cloud goes

crystal air tik tik 

sweet scent sniff 

tulips closed

shush at dusk

sea sky 

with a blush

whaa hoo hoo

dove calls

quiet clouds

nnnnnnnnnn

train announces

The backyard

is filled with weeds.

The tree 

which we cut last year

has shooters exploding

into the sky.

“Rat city,” my husband

disgustedly exclaims.

He suggests Round-Up;

I am horrified.

“Okay, I’ll weed on Tuesday,”

No problem. 

Though I do like

that jungle look.