rising like yeast up the old oak
tree. Springing like a slinky to maul
the metal cage, clinging to it
like words on a page. Gobbling all

the feed till he shakes out
most of the seed to the ground. So,
the bunnies have a meal next time
they come around. I fixed ones

with traps but the beast finds
his way between the gaps. I placed
a teeter-totter dome over the top
so, he'll wobble and fall. But he doesn't

stop!  He shakes and shimmies
like chocolate jimmies on an ice cream
cone dipping headfirst inside the bowl. It's war!
I swore I'd save the seeds and kernels

of corn for the robin's baby born.  He has
the acorns to himself!  Greedy gut has
the fattest tail and ****. And the beadiest
eyes I've seen. And he's downright mean!

ball paddled back and
forth by the both of
them. Small, so I
fit in the palm of their

hand with their fingers
enclosing around me, light
and round, hitting the
table. Dizzy by the

sensation of not having
a true destination. Falling to
the ground. Jumping hurdles,
and flying through the air

like a jet over the net. Ricocheting
as a bullet out of a gun. I'm home
spun. A pearl without a strand. Now
where will I land?

you stood tall and so strong
from green to red as my thong
raining down your brown capped nuts
gray rats chasing them just like a putz

Year after year
I lay in a bed of rope and cornflower cotton
my youngest son for mother's day had gotten
under your pointed lobed canopy
with a glass of strawberry wine, so happily

Year after year
the scratching of claws
the jay and robin applause
Downy woodpecker drills
such laugh and some thrills

Year after year
you shed your emerald coat
leaves dance in the air as they float
to the soft ground
covering it in a carpet of brown

all those times he walked
out of the restaurant to talk to you
on his cell phone while she sat
looking at her plate of honey

grilled salmon alone? What did
she think when you called him in
the wee hours of the morning waking him
from a sound sleep? And he replied

as he lied next to her on their four-
poster bed with the skylight window
overhead that it was so nice to hear
your sunflower voice dancing pirouettes

on the wire's edge. And what did she
think when he left the house all those times
to buy milk in his tight ripped jeans after he'd
preen himself and splash on the polo red after-

shave? He must have gave some excuse that
the trip took hours when the store was just around
the corner. Did he bilk when she asked
where was the milk?

with pretty faces
cleft chins
and wide tooth grins
with sparling eyes
that hypnotize
wear pretty clothes
drive pretty fast cars
have manicured nails and yards
tell pretty jokes
that make us laugh
and flatter folks
have marbled baths
and house maids
that scrub their toilets
and put out the trash
work out in gyms
to show off their bulging biceps
and sixpacks
flash their credit cards
at five-star restaurants
order champagne
clams on the half-shell
and lobster from Maine
give me migraines
those pretty boys
like their toys
and Netflix
their refrigerator is empty
but their desk drawers are full
with pictures of pretty chicks
and bottles of Advil
those pretty boys
the ones that are so bubbly
to me are only ugly

he mowed down. He watered
me and cut me down. I grew
even in the shade. I stood up
straight, an emerald blade. Stood as

grey clouds rolled in and
the rain fell, as the dew
dropped pearls upon my cells. I stood
in the sun's scorching rays that

turned my sweet green into yellow
hay. I looked up to the cornflower
sky, as the blinding wind flew right
by. Bunnies nibbled my leaves and

dogs peed on me. Men and women
walked all over me, leaving me
lying on my side flat. But still,
here I am! I sprung back!

It's a big world.
But little care.
There's lots of people.
But no one's there.

Who calls?
The dentist office
for your six-month cleaning.
The doctor's for another screening.

The world is full of noise.
But no one's there to listen.
Earphones drown your voice.
And cell phones block your vision.

Where did all the words go?
There are no cards or letters.
Bills fall in your mailbox.
You're one of many debtors.

But when you die
they'll be many bodies around you.
People all surround you, many men and
women, and some even children.