A Coagulation of Clouds

walking starting never stopping
a brief rest at the ridge's crest
look around and see
Earth spreads out eternally
to the limits of the sky
gravity, our minds and hands
to be a little puddle
to evaporate right up
to fly away new nubecita
cradled by mists and wind



We cry in fits and sob in hiding
(we wouldn't want to cause a fuss)
when a nice soaked pillow is full of weeping
soggy exhaustion embraces us
our sorrow evaporates all evening
while we sleep and dream of doves



two jackrabbits tango in the brush-spotted snow
the blizzard has paused for now
they dance through the desert graceful
in tiny applause from every shrub's shadow
through drifts like sand dunes low below
where looms the protector, Sanctuary's prow
the mountain everyone knows


G is for Grotesque
Ghislaine on tous détesté
Bury that filth
in a landfill
We suspect that would be best



whisker-thistle carpet sweepers
and frozen business mourning doves
the Wizard of Oz in Parliament
would suit that world a glove
in post-Rational America
a mad thing must make sense
a vote for any talking head
is a vote for missing rent



O ringtail cat sleek and lean
come dance with tiny reptile mean
to smash a bozo plip plop plap
you and we shall cheerily snap
their necks and fingers with delight
with bloody claws and eyes so bright,
comrade, ride with us to FIGHT!



a child embattled as if with no fear
keeping locked tight every cry and all tears
"It's not really courage if you haven't a choice"
words lost from their lips despair stealing their voice
a shadow obscured, a dust mote for years
til echoes of agony bring music to their ears



each cat-singularity has a yawning black hole
a portal to Elsewhere deep in their soul
on nights when their passions are aroused
millions of clowders all over Ur carouse
from beaches in tropical Zanzibar
to remote Tuktoyaktuk near the north star
a caterwaul can scare the ghosts
banishes memories of awful hosts
and dinner parties unpleasant most
but true strength swells in their wails
to soothe the dry and deadly gales
of Wendigo when he is raging and howling angrily
for cats a-caterwaulin', they howl in sympathy