marlene mountain
other-line sequence
april 5 1978

 

tanka sequence

scratch

you were
dropped
off
a kitten
female

reluctantly
i feed
your eyes
a name of
scratch

tender
dry licking
the first litter
then hiding
by the neck

the boy
shows everyone
'these
came from
scratch'

stitches removed
you stare at me
could you birth
an eighth time
ninth

no longer
could i watch
each struggle
i too have pain
a past

are you
so hungry
or do you eat
to swell
your belly

i did
not know
they knife out
the butterfly
leap

someday
i will be barren
we will watch
butterflies
together

photo of scratch & kittens
photo credit> maryellen ponsford

Lynx