smangley

1 September 2021

neighbor, nude and fur-
-ry and rain-wet, nuzzles my 
knee with their whole face

Meyer lemon tree
produced piquant bud, perhaps 
an atom of juice

slug considered on-
trend cicada dinner when
Brood X emerged, died

on path near Lake Anne 
Plaza, doll counts leaves and hours 
without their person

not fast enough to
photograph cat’s joyful face,
I’ll brush her again

Kyp savors summer
air and balcony’s Astro
turf on his belly

suited cat looks Mod
but fears instruments, killing
cat band ambitions

cat can brush herself
but loves being brushed; we can
all use helping hand

plantain-cat awaits 
brushing, ripening 
ever more sweetly

admiring Robert
Simon: an ally sitting
tall, beyond the grave