gary just a few things that struck me. When you refer to "he" I reckon this
is the angel and "she" is the cat am I correct as I just got a bit confused
here? In the penultimate verse "not caring poetry watering the flowers"
doesn't fit for me. Should it be "as the angel watched not caring"? instead.
"Poetry watering the flowers" sounds better for me. bw sally J

Sally, thanks for the suggestions.

The last below.

Smiles.

Gary

*

4tete 173 Angels on the Highway

An angel passed by our house
without checking the locks
or shopping news scattered about porch,
sidewalk and roses.

Maybe he knew we were not home,
the residence empty
except for a cat
and whatever creature she captured.

Maybe he knew our house-sitter
Monday through Friday
like a regular job, five to eight.

Perhaps he knew
the dwelling was home to an non-believer
destined for the Sixth Circle
even if all his annuity given to indulgents.

Or, it might be as simple as

the angel had bigger lemmings to catch
than a poet who relinquishes rhyme,
needs a couple pots of coffee
to get it together
and pontificates about the errors of others
vaguely aware of those he makes
without understanding which they are.

A war continues.

A bomb exploded on the cross-town bus
(and the day before the day before
beyond the days of creation and retribution).

Liberty is voiced, dissent stifled.

A parent's child dies along a sandy road.

Someone gave a starving man a dollar
without the lecture.
(Give a man a fish,
you know the rest.)

Somewhere a kitten was saved from drowning,
a dog was not beaten
or a toddler abused

as the angel watches not caring
poetry waters flowers
and clouds are verse set free,

his grim task
to pass by empty houses,
cats some other angel's mission.


GO TO http://www.mindfirerenew.com/ THE BEST NEW ZINE ON THE WEB.
Issue 1 ready to read.    Poets for Peace.... ¡Poemas sí, balas no!