Now what

cats are supposed to run from me,
the fearsome Portia with gleaming teeth and a growl
to make anyone or anything shake
yet this one rolls on the sidewalk in front of me
or rubs her back on the post in front of me,
there is no terror in her eyes!
What audacity!
yet what do I do then with this cat
and the other one who shows such lack of
respect for my gleaming teeth and growl,
my lunge and tugging on the leash,
I smell her and find myself speechless
and confused.

Tinnitus

Drown the
ocean waves in Mozart,
interrupt the crackling grumbling
on the left with Beethoven,
why the one that doesn't hear
except the imaginary, why not
something lovely instead, turn
up the volume so the ocean waves
can drown themselves and the
grumbling old crank can fall
into a silent sleep full of good
dreams.

Recovery from Lasik

I made the pizza, cracked open the beer.
He sat on the porch swing.
She jumped in his lap to offer assurances
that he would be able to walk her soon,
sooner than he dreamed of,
sooner even that I dreamed of, as I grabbed
the poopie bags for the third time today
as we headed out the door.

Freedom from fireworks

it's official
there will be no fireworks
in spite of Buddy's death,
he will not bark and chew windows
where he is now and
we hoped to watch
together for the first time
holding hands
enjoying independence
from the anxious and
troubled
instead we hope for no
more fires.

Lying

Lie on the bed or lay down your body
like a heavy load with angels wings,
your mind like a steel trap ideas escaping
into dreams through metal jaws
they lull you to sleep
lie heavily to save your skin pressed
against the mattress, the same skin
that faces the world in freckles
legs bare to the sun, so much of you
hidden like the lies that rise from
within spoken into once clear air.

Rain

finally rain
capturing smoke
igniting sirens
drenching gardens
finally rain
drops dancing on highways
blowing through open car windows
strangling toads
gasping for their final
croak.

(I had never heard the expression "toad strangler" for a heavy rain until tonight)

Back to the heat

Even the breeze on the bike doesn't cool
and so we escape in air conditioned cars
with the windows rolled up.
the garden waits and wilts, the
bike disappears looking for cooler
weather, never to be found again.