Christmas East

ByMerrie Dail

Something skitters across the room
– cats not far behind
another bird has been plundered from the garland
that winds its way up the stairs
why are these cats so sure
that the season’s decorations are strictly for their
amusement?
we have given up believing they will ever stay
out of the tree
perhaps our penance for their indoor life
or is it just some lataent primal cat instinct that surfaces
when we bring the Christmas tree home?
no matter
we will guy-wire the tree to the walls once more and
adjust the ornaments in such a way that none
inadvertently beckons to their fancy
finally,
we’ll stand across the room and snap a mental picture.
from this point on, our tree becomes
a sometime garden of feline delights.
Merry Christmas, cats!

And Merry Christmas to all of you and yours!

Similar Posts

  • Motherhood

    ByMerrie Dail

    Nights you’d prowl the house in stark contrast to days of nursing/moving/coaxing Did you slip away, certain your baby was asleep – forgetting she was an only child soon to miss the warmth of your body? or was it a need from deep inside to have some part of each day silently to yourself? It…

  • And The Word Went Out

    ByMerrie Dail

    Her worn collar long faded and stained used to be hot summer pink with lime-colored palm trees dancing ‘round Set against a pale yellow-white coat – she might as well have been wearing diamonds Later came the grass and mud, chocolate (swiped pastry) and a few garden remnants… over time each stain became an embedded…

  • Destination Seattle

    ByMerrie Dail

    Two weeks too many states bitter cold, bittersweet Asia and Blue Parakeet huddle, heading NW into winter We stretch legs wandering Wright Patterson Air Force Museum Herm Crab has retreated uncaring that a cold Pacific awaits Crossing into St. Louis driving rain obscures the exits settled in, we reminisce about dining near the old brick…

  • Nineteen Fifty-Two

    ByMerrie Dail

    ‘In the city’ where music danced on the night lights we dashed store to store over snowbanks, between cars through crowds of people across the cobblestone streets trying to avoid puddles of slush – don’t slip! meet. regroup and divide. meet again outside under the Shepard clock closely guarding our Christmas secrets only the constant…

  • Irony

    ByMerrie Dail

    We never wanted two cats and a dog the white picket fence and the station wagon The world waited just over the horizon Odd isn’t it how our fondest memories are of kids and dogs two old cats rule we no longer need yet have two station wagons all a part of creating a place…

  • First Snow

    ByMerrie Dail

    December had barely finished spelling out its name, yet huge, wet                                                    snowflakes                               silently      …

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *