About face

At four in the morning,

when all is quiet,

and those inside are abed,

out in the starless night

there lurks a small cat,

a gentle, affectionate, lass.

Then, with three-legged Fred

full hard on her heels,

she flees inside through the flap;

she quickly turns round,

confronts her old foe,

and lets fly  with a long, loud, howl.

I get out of my bed

and cautiously go

to see what's to do in the porch.

There, languid eyes look up

and she politely enquires,

"Now, what's wrong with you?"

          © Valerie Laura

          29 November 1997

Trust

Loans Procedure,

Complaints procedure,

Code of Ethics

and Mission Statement;

the law of meetings,

standing orders,

guidelines for trustees

and job descriptions for

chairperson, secretary and treasurer.

     On such is a trust built.

  

          © Valerie Laura

          15 June 1997

Interruption

Recumbent upon bare-branched clematis

drenched in late autumn sun

and draped over the tall wooden fence,

she lifts her head with disdain

to discern the source of annoyance

and disturbance interrupting

her ruminations on the likelihood

of attack from back or front

from three-legged tiger-striped tom

or long-haired ginger lady

and on her chances of ever catching

one of those pesky sky-flying birds

while also keeping in mind

the possibility of soon-appearing food.

     And they say cats are lazy!

          © Valerie Laura

          10 June 1997