New Rules on Gypsys Porch

there are rules
in number 1 feral cat
bobtails world
these rules change
everyday
it is up to
the other 13 cats
to make note of this
she knows all the ways
to enforce her rules
I watch her as she executes
her ritualistic performance
those receiving her wrath
sneek quick looks at her
as they cautiously depart

Growing Up

wingless child
adorned by crumbles
of humanity
simple innocence
on the bow string
following chance
shuffling
new wisdom
between tears
and laughter
growing up

Oh say Can You See

your definition
is defined by the sputterng
sopwith f-1 camel engine
and your destiny
flounders in the
embers of the opium den
your hands grabbing
at the smoke
drifting by in
illuminating moments
icicles for sale
on a warm morning
the exit sign glows
nothing is ever
what it seems to be
oh say can
you see

Gypsys Sunshine

cloudy mornings
since gypsy died
the sun cannot
find the rays
of her sunshine
to follow
to her cabin
in the woods
our tears will
plant new ones
and her sun
will shine again

Cairn Building

cairn building
is like
life building
there are no
shortcuts
the beginning
holds
the end

Straggly Child

a straggly child
growing up alone
a weed
in the middle
of a field
of flowers
she saw the flowers
and that has made
all the difference

Foreshadowing

bobtail
the first of my
minx feral cats
here from the beginning
has taken her place
with me on gypsys porch
during espresso ponder time
at dawn
she allows
none of the other 14 ferals
to put even so much as a paw
on the porch with us

Little White Dog

yesterday
I put white flowers
out around
the angel patch
flowers for gypsy
my little white dog

Play

the squirrel came today
it sat in the tree
where it always sat
near gypsys porch
in the angel patch
waiting for me
to let her out
to play

Without You

GYPSY
I am in the cabin
candles burning
sipping espresso
music playing
on my old clock radio
without you
first light
outlining the woods
I feel the cold
I am left behind again
without you
tears don't do it
I will sit
on your cabin porch
as we did so often
I will put my arm
around you
to keep you warm
against the cold morning
your light still shining
my day will begin
and end empty
without you
the tears drip from the leaves
as the woods says goodby
I call your name
in the silence

No Warning

no warning
people caught in the mess
innocent less priviliged
unable to buy safety
from the storm
living off the pacific
living near the ocean
waiting for what
they know is coming

Earth

shaking itself
making holes
miles long
destroying
mans destiny

No Place To Go

the earth trembles
as we build another
house or building
with no windows
to open because
the air is so bad
breathing it
is harmful
mans selfish choices
will be his demise
no place to go
shame at what
we left behind

8.9

the earth is destroying itself
inside out
eliminating mans ignorance
wondering if we
are going to wake up
before it is too late
we may not survive
barefoot boy
with cheeks of tan

Yesterday

yesterday the blue heron came
to tell me you were on your way
snapper was pointing a quail
and you were honoring her point
I am sitting on your cabin porch steps
as we did so often
so alone without you
but today is the day
still yours in every way
the cats are still circling your porch
they don't know yet you are gone
sometimes I can't stand today
I can always find you
in yesterday

Gypsy

she is gone
I heard her today
in every way

3-11-11

gypsy my 13 year old hunting dog
left today for the last time
taking her piece of my heart
nick and I were petting her as the vet
administered her last breath
releasing her from her struggle
our tears tried to wash away our sadness
as they rolled down her soft white hair
and soaked into her soft sheepskin bed
she will be cremated and come back to me
in a white urn where she joins dogs Ike and Indy
and husband John waiting for me
on a shelf in the antique cupboard in the loft
alone in my bed in the cabin last night
the quiet resting my ears and my tears
I ask gypsy to give me a sign
of her happy new life
another pointer snapper long time gone
kept coming into my mind
dawn brought a perfect morning to be out hunting
the breeze was cool and just right to carry a scent
I put on my cap and Johns old jacket
and headed out to the bench by the Cross
the low gray clouds were going by fast overhesd
the sun was breaking through
something caught my eye
a blue heron came flying by
circled just over my head and moved on
there it was gypsy was with snapper
the special pointer that use to point herons
when we lived on lake LBJ
gypsys friends are visiting
three wild turkeys just came by
their visits are infrequent
gypsys life was all about birds
I will keep watch for her next friends
my daughter sarah called from San Antonio
and said the birds were singing louder today
their joy in our lives holds us in its grasp
as we struggle to survive such sadness
and realize how much greater
the joy of having them is
than the grief of losing them
her joyful spirit never left her
I learned much from this
champion of companions
and will miss her dearly