What a nice name for a bird.

I bought a bird.
Tuesday mornings seem to fly away now.
Thursdays often nest in my eyebrows
and every second Sunday I could find reason to sing.

The bird took my soul.
and flew away with my money.
I should have never bought a bird.
Feathers ****.

Next month I shall buy a dog, or perhaps a horse, maybe even an armadillo.
But the dog will run, the horse will trot, and the armadillo will roll;
All away.
Pets ****.

Next year I shall find a wife,
and the the month before a band of pearl,
but what If I should run away?
what if I would ****?

when i was a child i had a siamese cat
we found him, alone, abandoned
outside of our home
we took him with us when we left

he never liked to be inside too much
but he loved me with all of his soul
refusing to leave me be and
resting on my lap until my legs were numb

he was aggressive and mean to his own kind
never letting other cats wander upon
his territory, but he expressed a tolerance
for the young kittens next door

one day he began searching the house
climbing into the bathtubs, across furniture
on the counters, meowing incessantly
until he decided to go outside

we opened the door for him and he happily
trotted away, and in the morning we
discovered he found what he was searching for
he was searching for a place to die.

We were told to expect snow
Snow, again.
Greeted by crisp hope and freezing air
We waited…
Dogs sniffed the air and each other
Hawks sat and wrapped themselves in feathered shawls
Discreet expectations
Anticipations of broken routines that might
Hold us captive to our homes
Caressed by comforting teas and naughty cakes

It didn’t snow.
Still, we stayed
Home
Held the dogs
Surrendered to self-imposed captivity

Friend of my youth with many glories shared

Confidant of my soul and comfort in my arms

My ear hears the saddest thing of all

Where once beat that true heart

Where my head lay to sleep and peace

I hear hollow, thundering silence

I'm not beautiful
Or well-bred
I watched my brothers die
I thought I was dead

Saved by a stranger
Who showed that they cared
Wrapped in a blanket
Hungry and scared

Now I just wait
Unsure of my fate
Please come and get me
Its never too late

My dog has written a poem
She penned it with her paws
She sends emails and closes documents
By licking my laptop with her big slobbery tongue!

Copyright Sandra Hughes 2014 All Rights Reserved

I.
When I was trying to move out to the city,
I felt, for the first time, the gentle nudge of
your damp snout at the tips of my fingers.
And when your small paws
fearfully clutched the palm of my hand,
you beheld me like a God
and I called your brown eyes
raisins.

II.
I am working on being my own man
who handles the bills, cooks his family dinner,
and, at the vet’s office, doesn’t crumble over phrases like
It’s time to put her to sleep.

III.
The truth is this:
Love is an organic thing,
It fruits and softens.


September 5, 2013 3:15 AM
Revised: December 9, 2013 1:57 pm