three crates
under a blanket
in the cold..
in the crates
are the cats
that were caught in the traps
to remove their fertility
in exchange for their freedom.
Wild predators masquerading as common pets –
reminding me that not all is as it looks –
and freedom has many faces.
many of them hidden.
all service is sacred.
Practice daily.
Foster Love.
the dawn is barely broken
the horizon is not yet pink
a soft gray envelopes the world
still chilled
from the cold stars,
and there You are
chirping away.
What are You doing up so early?
What are you doing up so late!
somedays are totally overwhelming –
they are so full
i feel i could bust –
and then down the street comes Hope.
Surprise!
when your back is against a wall,
or a crate,
and you do not know what will happen next –
sometimes the best option
is to calm down
and
watch.
and listen.
and enjoy the food.
today at the table
was much joy
and much sorrow.
and peering over the edge of the table is You!
reminding me that under it all is Hope.
today,
on my porch are
two small tigers and a miniature panther.
they arrived
wild and hissing and soaking wet.
they are now caged and dry,
with full bellies –
and scared.
and even though they are loved,
i doubt they can tell right now.
I empathize.
but still wear gloves when i put in their food.
in the mornings
i greet my day
every day
with prayer and contemplation.
and i am used to having an armed guard in attendance.
The Nahuati called you Turtle Rabbit,
but their numbers have diminished of late.
i thought it was simply due to the weather –
but sadly have discovered it was due to others who were also well armed.
how is it that we label some ‘vermin’ and others pets?
when i see You in all Your compliments.
this is the third little kitten i painted tonite.
the rest of her litter are gone,
failures of attention and of spilled water –
not unlike the rest of her siblings
who we have buried under a pecan tree –
though
they were never ‘ours’.
They were born, like so many others under the shops and porches of my neighbor.
Someone has thrown kibble in front of our house by the road,
to lure them out or as some misguided attempt at being kind?
i know not.
I only know that I have been rebuffed in my attempts to help.
that can no longer be an excuse.
That an act of feeding could be so cruel.
like torn pieces of rice paper –
i feel ripped apart by metaphors and myths.
I need to feed my better wolves.
and bait traps of kindness.
my neighbor put a new fence last year,
and at first i was a bit upset,
for it blocked my view of the forest.
but this morning,
it was the seat of the choir!
some sing low and some sing higher –
but all our voices are needed.
today i have been teaching the littlest canine the word ‘down’
she of course knows how to lie down,
she does it all the time…
she simply doesn’t know the English word for it …
and why should she?
just so i can put her in her place?
what about my place?
but she needs to respond to my request to assume this sphinx like position
to pass a test that says she is a good citizen –
no one asks me to reciprocate.
i happen to be teaching her the word ‘table’ as well.
Education should be reciprocal as well as practical.
Thus i find her lying down on the table as i paint.
it is not, apparently, up for discussion.
the matter is simple tabled.
oh i have sooooo much to learn.
Ministry of Animals 