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.

to catch a cold

is a fair reward for risk

well undertaken

in conquest of this bolting boar

that stole my mind

soon as I am left in his dust

or pacify him for return to farm

I am giddy for another

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

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

It’s not every day

I get to harness flaming blue anger

to blow up assumed notions

of my being that are now well retired

I smile at the loud crash

revel in this rising dust cloud

satisfied by the old order’s sweet demise

denied no more

I killed it

when my heart beats

right next to yours

I witness the glee

of promise

my entire day folds right into

this fleeting moment

I continue to live

only for the next

dance of we

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

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.

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

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