Strays

The black dog is wandering
Through the neighborhood again
Trespassing, stealing worthless things
The lost and mischievous ghost of a child

Late autumn stray cat appeared on the lawn
Raking leaves with my baby girl, eve of last Halloween
Soul of a pet my sister and I kept long, long ago
Long long long ago

Soft silken coat
Black and heavy as Deep South summer nights
Light eyes green and bright
Sharp as the pain of the hornet's sting
Nestled deep in the darkest corners
Of the slanted concrete porch
Of our sad old Kentucky home

Lightning quick
Lithe little stray slipped into the house
Lost and lonely ghost
Of a wayward summer wind
Baby girl and I chased the uninvited guest
For days on end

But not for long
She went away
The day the big storm came
Swept away the leaves
And everything else that day

Last I saw she was headed for the lake
Lost in the wake of the hurricane
Refusing every helping hand
Swallowed up by late October waves
And too many problems for one little girl
Long-lost sister
Never to be seen again
Until the day perhaps we shall meet again

Too-early dawn
Surly crow fat as a stray cat
Belligerent bully blue jay
Big as a house, loud as a train
Caterwauling outside my window pane