Hi Gary,
Nice phrasings in this piece! Having been away for a few days it's canny to 
come across a canny poem like this! The short sinlge lines work well!
But do you need the first two lines? (and the first separate Not Cats!) ?
For me the piece seems OK starting after that...
Bob


>From: Gary Blankenship <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Pennine Poetry Works <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Strays, revised
>Date: Wed, 21 May 2003 09:57:07 -0700
>
>Strays
>
>Simple barriers of chick wire and bedsprings
>vector dog-runs in a different direction.
>
>Not cats!
>
>Wooden fence, chain-link or picket,
>the common cat ignores barriers
>like ordinary caterpillars,
>their paths criss-cross lawn, alley, garden,
>trails from their home to our hang-out.
>
>We do not feed them,
>and wonder why so many strays
>find our deck the neighborhood place to play -
>mottled, calico, solid black,
>mongrel exotics, taupe and sand,
>a yellow tom and the home cat - tuxedo.
>
>We feed her.
>
>Tigers stalk buttercups hunting roebuck,
>leopards slink through azaleas,
>the home cat, once panther trim,
>watches through the patio door,
>no longer able to protect her territory
>or catch fat mice and fallen fledglings.
>
>Squirrels avoid our trees, rabbits our clover.
>From the safety of his kennel,
>an old dog once barked at interlopers,
>ignored by most, teased by a few.
>The last tired mutt has left the house,
>and only stray cats and plump mice remain.
>
>Tails taste the air.
>
>IF MY MAIL BOUNCES, MAIL [log in to unmask] AS AN ALTERNATIVE.....April 
>Arthur
>Seeley and Gary poetry poems at:
>http://gardawg.homestead.com/gardawg.html --- Writer's Hood at
>http://www.writershood.com/..... Poets for Peace.... ˇPoemas sí, balas no!

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