on the horizon

promising and exciting news

from an eco research lab

in a secretive/undiclosed location...

initial results from an ongoing study

linking anxiety inputs to meterological outputs

have been both surpising and promising

rising degrees of anxiety in study subjects

have been found to exist in close correlation

with spontaneous downpours: intense in volume

yet fleeting in duration...lasting no more than mere seconds

so brief as to register only on the vapour scale

~

the research projection indicates

that the vapour trail has the potential

in the near future

to wash any and all anxieties 

away

on the lam

 a sign in the hood reads:

'Lovebird 

missing

if seen call

###-###-#### '

~

hearts and feathers

a flutter

safe journeying

LB

Friday

a couple of days ago

we took a trip to the vet

an annual checkup for two

and overdue on account of all the upending

as we waited in the car (due to Covid protocols)

i watched a reflection in the clinic window

a young man and an older man (i think a father and son) approaching

walking a large, golden dog

they walked slowly and as they came closer

i could see how very frail the dog was

they paused for a moment at the door to the clinic

before it was opened for them and the three went inside

i was reminded of a Friday afternoon in June three years ago

when we went to the same clinic but returned home

without our constant companion of nineteen years

***

a little while later, the two emerged

the father holding a leash in his hand

as they passed us the son looked at me in the car

i was wearing my mask but hoped he could see in my eyes

my commiseration and empathy

and wish for them to take comfort in knowing

that someone must have been very well loved

had given much love in return

and had a dearly blessed life

taking stock

a still afternoon

perfect for sunning oneself

snuggled up to catnip toys

a mild Wednesday in mid-October

the birthday of a dear friend

a bit of calm and quiet

in a sad and solemn year

all good

in a week when one of the two kittens

was suddenly mimsy

it's a relief to know that she seems better

recovered

like her usual spritely, cuddly self

napping in the sun

***

sometimes 

a day for giving thanks

arrives a little earlier

than expected

arachne regrets

apologies to the little black spider

unintentionally dislodged from her web

in the plant pot

while digging up spent marigolds

in the sunday sun

news of the world/a song of extinction

a small woodpecker

on the backyard fence today

has she heard that the ivory bills

are no longer among us?

i don't have the heart to tell her

(much less hold it in mine)

she goes on her way

tick tick tick

tick tick tick

tick tick

tick 

tick 

score card

kittens 2

hibiscus 0

~

the already struggling houseplant 

today took a toppling

...

no single set of paws

was caught in the act

of doing the deed

perhaps a tandem venture

***

elastoplast wound around one banged up branch

as a pair of culprits snooze in the sun

and dream of future october

horticulturing