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 
    its 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.

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