I’m going to take a tour of myself
Black and orange wings
unravel any dark.
Their singular songs chipping
suet, cracked corn, sunflower seed. To know there’s a path
& fly away!
A cento from Chuck Stringer’s forthcoming collection, By Fowler’s Fork
Following Onset of Strawberry Season
Asparagus fronds
sway in wind and heat, strengthening
roots for next season.
To Protect Tender Bush Beans
Twirling red and yellow
daisies, purchased at dollar tree,
hired to startle crows.
Three Rabbits Play in Clover
Even the birds notice
from their soon-to-fledge nesting
site at our down spout.
For Hershey, my Loyal Companion
The Conniving Feline is all we hear
Filled with Bad Luck, The Superstitious Fear
But the Old, Fat Cat on my Lap
She’s a big Ole Sap
Who craves for nothing more
Than Scritches and Belly Pats
A Loyal Companion
She sits close by
Flicking her tail
As Squirrels Scurry
And Birds Fly
She’ll lay, take a Nap
Twitch as she Dreams of Chasing Rats
Soft Snores in her Deep Slumber
A Soothing Noise like no other
Takes me away from my Mind’s Clutter
When she gets up
She does a “Big Stretch”
Fur sticking up
Bulky, Belly on the Ground
But not making a Sound
She then Pats at Me
With her Calloused Paws
Drawing me away
From the World
And all its Flaws
Round, Lime Eyes
Ask for my Attention
I Gaze, and I Smile
Grateful for the Distraction
And Pet her to her Satisfaction
Our Day to Day
This is Us
Her and I
By each other’s Sides
Against Reality’s Tides
Simple it seems
But more Important
Than anyone sees
For she is a Constant in my Life
And I Fear for when she Leaves
So Don’t Underestimate
The Old, Fat Cats
Purrs and Snores a Blissful noise
Distractions from the Mind and The World
By your Side, asking for Nothing More
Standing in their garage
to smoke after dinner,
declining offer of bourbon.
My brother-in-law
has a date with a neighbor.
I watch arms
exchange, wondering
if this is legal, if
they have vodka
in this state.
I’ve been trying to find the key
