Trains
As soon as the train passed, I scurried away to the other side of the tracks. It took a minute to recall the exact location of my friend’s burrow, but my nose picked up her scent. In I went, only to discover she and her kids hadn’t woken up yet. I tried to tiptoe around the snoring trio, but there wasn’t much wiggle room. Eventually, one of them startled to life, took one look at me, and shrieked. Then I remembered what I did. The last time I saw them, I cheekily let the train run over me just as I waved goodbye to them. As long as I lie low in this groove I dug, I am clear of that cruising steel can. Looking at their shocked faces, clearly they had no idea. Now I felt like a rat. In my defence, we are all rats.
Scent
I caught a whiff of you
looked up and saw you pedal by
wow a human!
that’s not my human
alarm bells ring in my head
quick alert them all
I bolt towards the gate
damn chain link fence is in the way
maybe theres a hole at the base
I could squeeze through
I pace back and forth but no joy
the cyclist is getting away
oh there goes my chance to meet fresh meat
if I got close enough not sure
if I would bite him or lick him
either way how exhilarating
any chance you have a trailing posse?
I can come too
my nose is great at picking game
not that I am into the kill
I am all for the chase
call me
Lust for life
I am going all in
for the participation trophy
yes I am in the running
I am no threat really
lots of reasons to bow out
ignoring that negative crowd
taking my licks and kicks in trailersville
accompanying winners to the podium
all smiles at cameras for whom
I remain out of view
my being overflowing in gratitude
despite mounting challenges
these tired feet made it to race
hoping present momentum
outpaces that of creeping despair
tempting as it is to throw in the towel
I would rather they take me out by my feet
but not one second earlier
than my ordained time
Flee
I feel like a flea
escaping my host
searching for another
to carry me off to distant lands
far from my pain
healing is too hard
looking for a tear in my reality
to fly right through onto oblivion
it wouldnt be my first flight
I have pitched camp in hostile territory
ploughed fields I did not own
drowned myself in false identities
huddled by traditions feet
wanting for a warm embrace
only to leave hollow and hungry
I want to come home
to my pain
sit with it
understand it
learn from it
embrace it for
it is mine
I gather all my parts
into a whole person
Risen
A lady walks down the street with a little girl in tow. She looks at her daughter’s face as it morphs into that of a wolf. Frightened, she lets go of her hand. “What’s wrong, Mummy?”, says the girl. “It’s okay, dear. We just need to get you home soon”, says the lady. They hurry along. The girl runs ahead, then her legs turn into flippers. Her mummy picks her up and shrouds her with her coat.Even then she knows it’s too late. The metamorphosis has taken root earlier than expected. A beam of light shot right through her daughter’s chest into the heavens. Frantically, she ducked into the foliage. She tried to shield her from the rays, nearly smothering her girl in the process. She could feel her body lift underneath her. She was losing her grip on her torso. Screaming hysterically, she dug her heels in but there was no traction. Now it was just her arms she held onto. “Don’t worry, Mummy. I will be back soon” said the girl as droplets of gold ran down her face. As her fingers slipped away, she watched her girl float off towards the sun. “What will you be?”she whispered.
more
when I see you run headfirst
into the wind
arms behind you like a cape
beaming from ear to ear
paying no mind
to where your feet go
I witness purest glee
a happy learner
willing to fall
for the thrill
whether its recorded or not
measured not by likes
but by heart rate spikes
when you trip over
we have a little cry
for you to turn around
and charge again
no one’s keeping score
Bubble
We began in a sac
sticky told me you were there
my hands got to shaking
one swing of the lever
switched onto a different track
we jiggled and giggled
danced away the blues
you dropped in my lap
I swaddled you in my love
you wriggled little hands free
frantically I tucked them back in
facing devastating headwinds
plodding along in a snowstorm
thank heavens
we are safe, finally
warm and toasty by the fireplace
you crawl from wrappings
babbling away at all you see
I blew a bubble
and in we went
happy as clams
singing wheels on the bus
as we lifted higher
nestled in the basket beneath
basking in golden hues at dusk
floating above bad weather
getting closer to the moon
can’t wait to see you
take a bite out of big cheese