Eager Life

                                Down the stone path
          I witnessed
           a strange stand-off
           between 
           a deer mouse
            and calico cat

            The mouse’s eyes
            were stricken, and 
            haunches hunched 
            praying
            not be seen 
            by the cat
            close by

              Bee balm 
              shone crimson 
              in that
              piercing
              moment of terror

              When I returned
               the mouse
               was gone, and 

               I remembered it’s 
               doomed eyes

               entreating me 
               to witness 
               it’s eager life

               Swallows
               swooping by 

               Sunset
               painting the sky     
               scarlet

Joan MacIntosh

Joan lives in St. John’s, NL and writes poetry and prose. She recently completed a memoir entitled, The Poacher’s Cabin and other cottage Journeys. "Poacher" was published in the South Shore Review. Joan’s poetry has been published in TicleAce, Newfoundland Quarterly, Leafpress and others.