Stupid damn cat

Me...ow

 

Stupid damn cat

 

 

Attempting sleep on the balcony, a railing at my back,

twisted iron creating stripes on my skin

Crisscrossing as I slide across a Craigslist mattress

or not, still my body moves

 

slightly used

 

The cool night air shifts direction

west becomes east (ah east) on a northerly flow

Dry leaves gather at my feet, dead but still with some color left

extending beyond the shadows now painting me with patterns

 

security lighting

 

Small slits where my eyes lids blink find the neighbor’s cat

now chooses my chest to sharpen its claws

A quick swat sends him flying,

taking small pieces of my skin as a trophy

 

starting from scratch

 

New scars eventually seek old scars,

I can feel them reaching, (blood trickles on wrinkled sheets)

digging through my skin, exploring the muscle,

the tissue, finding the damage done to my heart

 

sliced open

 

Tunnels carved into my body, wormholes to a different dimension

Time passes beyond the depths of my being, flooding streets

and low water crossings with the pain (excruciating), echoes holler,

holding the volume to a dull roar  

 

strange sounds

 

A siren in the distance startles me, breath leaves me as I sit up

reaching for my chest, nothing is there

Alongside me you sleep, peacefully

I touch your skin , a smile finds your face

 

so very beautiful

 

And I thank my lucky stars for sleep (finally), this dream,

the comfort, the softness in visions pure of love,

as reality is left outside, two stories up

on a balcony with a twisted iron railing...

 

stupid damn cat     

 

 

Author's Note

Thank you for reading

Reviews

[Ken Simm.]

Slinking write, like the cat Jack. Excellent.

[Jack...]

Thanks so much Ken. An actual cat owner here, I know what those claws to the chest can feel like.

[carol burgess romance]

Oh Jack, you never cease to entertain. Enjoyed this very much.

[Jack...]

Thanks so much my sweet friend. I hope as much happiness finds you as your words bring to me.

[eglantine]

Nice job easing into this poem, that heavy sleep-but-not-quite-asleep tone. I'd cut the last line since it's the title. I love the "(ah east)" use of parenthesis. Thank you for sharing.

[Jack...]

Thanks so much my friend.

[Lydia Shutter]

Reality invades dreams all too often, that's true. Good enjambment in your lines and excellent imagery. I liked that you mentioned a "Craig's List mattress" and then say your body is "slightly used"....a bit of tongue in cheek humor there. Well written...you tell a good story. Lydi**

[Jack...]

Thanks so much, I realize this was a bit off-center, but that is how I was feeling at the time.

[Troy Henson]

Dreams vs reality. A wonderful depiction Jack and a well penned piece.

Regards
Troy

[Jack...]

Thanks so much Troy. I appreciate your kind words.

[SyberRose]

this was conjured in an eerie suspenseful atmosphere Jack...when you said pure of love
maybe you should say purr of love haa....Rose:)

[Jack...]

Thank you so much sweet Rose. Happy Sunday morning

[icelandicblue]

I really like this one. You show your versatility as a poet with this one. I liked the dream state vs. reality moments. This is a really well-crafted poem.

[Jack...]

Thanks so much Anne. Happy you enjoyed it

[TL Boehm]

WOW. I think this one may be one of your best. It is as John said, intricate and it has that grit to it. Love it.

[Jack...]

Thanks so very much Tammy

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Very interesting and intricate piece Jack. As was said ealier the descriptions are palpable I too could feel the breeze. Found the gentility a little sad though.

[Jack...]

Thanks so much John

[Angel]

This one is a weird kind of a nightmare to sweet dream...it is intriguing, and leaves me with a sense of having been in the proverbial "Twilight Zone"...
There are unsuspected depths to your writing Jack, that I just love exploring...

[Angel]

Did I mention that I am allergic to kitty cats???

[Jack...]

Thanks so much dear Angel. yes, this one was out there but my thoughts are conveyed the way I saw them.
Got it, no cats around Angel. :)