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Wednesday, October 20, 2010

The Trees Laugh


Early October

A new wind blows in from out of town somewhere
and sets the sycamores dancing. Their leaves flutter
like flocks of green birds rustling on the branches
and every leaf is the wing of a bird flapping. The cat

in the glass room stares up at the birds and everywhere
is a new bird landing. She slinks, little yearling lioness,
from couch to table to desk to table, yellow eyes wide
in that up-tilted head, bewitched by the spectacle

of birds, birds everywhere, everywhere she looks.
She does not remember last autumn, when the new
wind blew in and the sycamores started chuckling,
waving hello until they shook off those leaves.

She does not remember and so it is new, almost
more than she can take in, but look: a bird falls!
The cat freezes at the sight of prey and when
it lands, a dead curled leaf, she cries.

18 comments:

Woman in a Window said...

I feel like that just a little, Chris, like everything is new, as though I've never experienced it before, not quiet, anyways. It is strange and surreal and should be ordinary but is not.

xo
erin

Brian Miller said...

ha. wonderful pic...and then the playful words....ha. my cat is starting to lose a bit of sight i think so she spooks at the oddest things...

Myrna R. said...

You have such a lovely way with words. Enjoy reading your poetry. This one is cute, sensitive and it depicts fall so well.

Thanks for your writing.

CiCi said...

The cat's imagination has tinges of your imagination. Ha.

Unknown said...

Great post...my little doggle girl loves to watch the birds outside as she perches herself on the back of our couch...she watches them closely and with all intent, she loves to bark at them and make the fly off of our neighbors roof too!!!!

Nice picture too!!!!

love gabi

Birdie said...

lol Chris, this was fun to read I'm glad it was just a dead curled leaf ... sorry for your little cat :-) but she is beautiful, and the white coat is so white like a snow... do you bath her for the pictures :-) happy day Chris!

Sage Ravenwood said...

And the dance will continue again anew next year. I love the wonderment they display. (Hugs)Indigo

e said...

Great poem and wonderful cat, too. I wonder how many times we've been disappointed when a curled leaf wasn't what we wanted?

the walking man said...

I cry to not because I thought my prey was dead but because Fall means winter is inevitable. Crap!Give me hot humid summer anytime.

nsiyer said...

Lovely verses. Enjoyed every bit.

Unknown said...

I smiled as I watched our cat, Gigabit, stalk about 10 squirrels who were frantically gather up the acorns that the wind had blown down. She lost that battle but it made me smile. Loved your poem today.

♥namaste♥

Marla said...

What a pretty kitty and your words, well, perfect prose as always.

RNSANE said...

I am in a Ambiem haze hoping to fall asleep in the next half hour. I've hot to break this habit of staying up all nigh. Once Craig Ferguson is done rambling, I'm bound for bed.

Enjoyed New Olreans and my small group of nursing school classmates. Ate some really good Cajun food and just cherished being close with them all.

Paul C said...

I marvel at the instinct of cats. You capture well their stealth. Beautiful photo.

Beth Niquette said...

Another powerful rainbow of words. Just beautiful. I have seen this--felt this.

Magpie said...

Oh, what a tease that wind can be!
Beautifully told.

Syd said...

I had little wind yesterday. But the cats do enjoy watching the birds at the feeder and the frogs are their prey when one hapless critter jumps into the house.

Olivia said...

I love cats and loved your poem too.. :)