little boy

off

where pain shifts like the ping
of engine

the sound of
                  a thousand cats puking

I

perched on a tree branch
outside your mind

      a mountain top
is flat

if you sleep upon it

think about it

the sky is a blanket of dewdrops
that are vast stars
                               of the void

and you are cold in your sleep
so I cover you with my dreams

wondering

what will you look like in
20 years        I can't even imagine
what you will look like   tomorrow

when I am an afterthought of time

when I peer down from the
blank clouds
that are the deep black
ground

eyes

ivy white and homeless

trying to catch a glimpse
of your mind

no matter how often
we disappear

forever

my little boy

Glass.

ghosts stalk my cat in the dark corners of our apartment

every once in a while he'll notice them

with widening pupils he focuses on the void just over my shoulder
where phantoms lurk like the deep circles under my eyes

bruised shadows hidden behind a pane of glass

What to do?

the message was there.
that the litter was in the mail.
weighing in at 40 lbs.
no shipping cost.
tracked and noted to be, "out for delivery."
It was, as of this writing, two days late.
would I be asking for a refund
on the package? Would I be filing a disputed claim?
consider that it had recently snowed.
more than snowed actually, a blizzard, final total 3 feet in most counties.
also consider there was a cat in need of a place to shit.
also consider that there was a cat in need of a place to shit.

Cat dreams

in the filing cabinet
you found your face,
a perfect match
between manila sheets.

leaving the house -- cat poem

my cat's eyes plead
don't go--
but I must,

even if he'll never know why.

sunday night with cats

You hug my leg
dreaming sweetly;
then you bite me
twitching, mewing

I don't understand it either

not what you want,
or why,

I am here, breathing.

your body is warm
fur covered, tired.

we yawn together.

your eyes flash orange,
pupil turquoise ringed.

blink one eye, then other
now both.

it's past midnight, into new days.

okay, I'll stop typing
so you can sleep,

okay.
okay.
okay.

The Grey Fog

my cat's mrrawwl
from the other room
schnitk of claws on rug
whimper and mew
as he heads up the hallway
full tilt at deadly gnashing speed
his tail like shark's fin
cuts the chill night air
passes by my bed,

he's annoyed it's late
and I am ready for bed,
he swings his head
in wild feral torque
races down the hall
gallop and trot of paw
pounding pounding

I shut the light
a moment of unmoved silence
darkness and barely
there shadows--

he rushes toward my room.

To you, From me

You're out like
gray lump of clay on
dusty bookcases
of the past--this one
empty sad without
any books just scattered
unwanted memories
just things that aren't useful
unwashed beer botttles
torn posters faded lines
scribbling a red hot madness
of years and years--ignoring
the light that dances above you
the flutter and whine
of plastic blinds in spring winds
lazy cool sundays whatever
day like it matters or simple
recognition of time passes
those orange eyes shut
to the world ears twitching
waiting for me rise to get
going to do something
important but I just sit
here staring typing wasting
no fun not interesting at all.

Nibs

mewling
gray cat presses
soft pink nose
against my hands,
body sprawled out
over keyboard score
blocking my view,
little black pieces
little white words;

every now and then
sits up stiff, ears twitch
orange eyes wild,
bites my wrist,
reminding me not
to get so complacent,
after all, with such a
wild beast;

little gray cat
thinking surely (I think, maybe)
fuck you for clicking away,
an effort to pay no attention
to me;

licks himself
absently, methodically,
(vindictively?)
front paw latched on back
of screen, straining,
no hair out of place
no kingdom left
unconquered,
hrms and haws
and growls,
low low whine lo,
purrs victoriously.

Whit haiku to carry in your pockets

Sleeping cat
open your eyes
see the gray rugged morning

Where were you kitten?
six years ago lost
when mother left you alone

There's no food
you check anyway
licking the empty bowl

my finger struck your nails
blood rose to surface
you were afraid but smiled

without a clock
you mewed for morning
until I rolled from bed

on the table sprawled
we watch the streets
with different memories

Scar down your nose
a white furry schism
between sad orange eyes

rumble of cars on street
an old obstacle ignored
your upturned sleeping belly

in your thick coat
I see the sad alleyways
rainy nights of the past