THE BELL
The otherworldly kindness
of the little collar bell
the cat has to wear now
after the unthinkable
cruelty of the finch murder.
She brought the bird to us
as if she thought we might
be proud of her.
The irremediable color
of the finch's blood
in her white fur. Now,
the singular sweetness
of the bell, warning away
every winged thing.
The cat has taken
to lying in the shade.
She'll grow old and fat,
bring us nothing
but her hunger and the silver
sound of the bell
we'll bury her with.
The otherworldly kindness
of the little collar bell
the cat has to wear now
after the unthinkable
cruelty of the finch murder.
She brought the bird to us
as if she thought we might
be proud of her.
The irremediable color
of the finch's blood
in her white fur. Now,
the singular sweetness
of the bell, warning away
every winged thing.
The cat has taken
to lying in the shade.
She'll grow old and fat,
bring us nothing
but her hunger and the silver
sound of the bell
we'll bury her with.