The wren scolds the cat
who doesn’t care and continues
to explore our back yard,
stalking the unseen.  I give
her a treat, encouragement
to hang around as deterrent
against rabbits and chipmunks
I battle for vegetables in the raised beds.

The wind rustles the oak leaves.
The cardinal, a bright ornament in the dogwood,
hops from branch to branch.  The front page
of the newspaper has messages of hope
for once.  I pray it will manifest where I breathe
as the wren twitches on a Serviceberry branch,
trilling to her mate.  I fill a watering can
from the rain barrel, drench the tomato plant
in its clay pot, church bells ring
in the distance, a small plane flies
over it all, and the neighbor’s cat
naps in the chair beside me.