97poems/cantankerous

CANTANKEROUS

Before I am awake
I hear the crows
arguing,
their cantankerous speech
pierced by a barking dog.

Awake, the twitter
of songbirds comes
into play,
the cry of wild kittens
at the back door,
the moan of a mama cat
seeking escape.

In the distance,
but not distant enough,
a prop plane
which makes me fear
a fire has started.
A July day
which makes me know
the sorrow of dry creek beds
and crawdads dying
on burning sand.

7/7/97