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

[Ravyne Hawke]

This is a wonderful poem, Jack.. I love the imagery in this piece; it paints the scene so well. This is a bit different from your usually fare. I love the dream.. it seems more real to the protagonist than reality at this point. Very well done.

[Jack...]

Thanks so much Lori. Sometimes I just begin writing and see where it ends up, this is one of those times.

[Ravyne Hawke]

You do it very well, Jack.. I am always amazed when a poem starts off one way in my head and ends up as something totally different.