sway
bend
Spirit
of the Dance
straight arms, but tender
poised on steady legs and tough toes
smooth gestures, chiffon gown, wet with sweat, groaning, weary
Sit.
Stay.
Now, speak.
You're so good!
You make me so proud!
Not all girls can do what you can.
They talk, then walk, then leave, then stay away to live for
Themselves alone. You would never be so self-pleasing. You're my Girl, my Sweetie, my Pet!
Strange to think of it, but our Christmases' are numbered.
Only so many l i g h t d I s p l a y s
an' dressed up trees left.
Gifts to give
and get
H o w
few?
Climber of doorjambs
Killer of big cockroaches
Forgiver of unkind owners
A soft bundle of living, moving warmth
She was my cat
And she deserved more
More fishing-pole play
More rubbings on me with her cheeks and flanks
More naps in my bed
More games of hide & seek
More chin and behind-the-ears scratches
She was a good cat
And I didn't deserve her
Not her thick fur
Dark tail and cow splotches
All on a creamy white background
A salt n' pepper head with shining, yellow eyes
Her demanding meows at all hours
Her tirelessly toting her feathery toys
And leaving bite-marks on all that was mine and bitable
Sucking on clear, plastic wrappings
An
Can a heart that's never
dived into love,
not even once,
rightly be called
a heart?
An incomplete heart
beating, beating, beating
inside a bone-and-flesh cave
for d e c a d e s
must stop someday--
What will become of you?
Is there a second chance
when this squandered life falls away?
Or is this- was this-
the second chance
to be true and complete?