hound bellows beneath
my window we sing: "i am
stupid in this world"

dad painted quiet
in the murmuring attic
farther than the moon

i respect the creature
chloe actually is
and try to find
her best description:
animal companion?
(close) familiar?
(beguiling but not
accurate) pet? (insulting)
fur baby? (christ, no)
today i will not be
despondent because she is
gentler and more
authentic than i
and loves the ridiculous
pathetic me more
than i deserve
as does the patient
father of the cosmos

anger jolts my brain
swift purple fever shallow
rapacious world i'm done

a sweet autumn breeze
tousles my scalp discovers
my forgotten grin

suddenly missing mother a rough animal sound comes

downpours broke that spring
till i whooped and soaped my
naked hide outdoors

Raft winds aimlessly
sloshing down churning river
moon for company.

Possum and racoon
tuck into sublime feast spilled
from broken garbage.

My aching prayer.
Snowflakes drifting on the wind
delicate and still.

Cold, ivory moon
hangs in still autumn sky.
Keen harvest sickle.

My familiar stops
and gazes somewhere I can’t.
Composed as a ghost.

Green colander my
helmet broom my spear catcher’s
mitt my codpiece

Fierce comfort of night
blizzard covers my regret
in blue hush, gently.

Mama’s call travels
as far as feet can take us
to our hot supper

Moon and coyote
harmonize with my rusty
bucket serenade.