by Rochelle Ratner
She goes out with the garbage. Meow. Twit of a
teenager. She's lived in this house since before his
parents were born, and she'll be damned if they'll
harass her into moving an inch. Meow. She at least
got some peace when the brat was in school, but it's
summer now, he's around all day. Ought to be in
reform school. Meow. She walks out on the porch for
her mail. Sounds exactly like a bitch in heat. Meow.
First it was the damn cat, digging up zinnias and
mums not two hours after she'd planted them,
thinking she was in some god damned litter box.
Meow. Free to good home, indeed. Should have just
drowned the beast. Meow. Can't even take a nap in
the middle of the afternoon. Meow. She sits by her
picture window, looking out, just waiting for the little
bugger to pee in her flowerbed.
Rochelle Ratner's latest poetry books include Balancing Acts (Marsh Hawk Press, 2006), Beggars at the Wall (Ikon, 2006) and House and Home (Marsh Hawk Press, 2003). She is the author of fifteen previous poetry collections and two novels (Bobby’s Girl and The Lion’s Share) both published by Coffee House Press). More information and links to her writing on the Internet can be found on her homepage.
