The Lone Cat

The heroines in Burnett and Montgomery
wear drab, strange clothes, have flaming
hair, soulmates, jewels in their ears,
and sometimes almost die.
A wild Mariposa draws girls like these
to the edge of a sea-cliff

gentle hope juts out -- softly --

like the sweet stalks of lilies that grow along the mountain edge, 

who dip slowly to the breeze, succumbing with grace --

like drops of water (plink! plink!) eroding granite’s surface

The phoenix intends to die before the mirror, 
its vanity endless, blackberry eyes sharpened by glowing flame
ruthlessly chasing a forever love
a creature of Narcissus
As it has no lover, no Echo to call it back,

They sit on apple-ruby seats, special emblems on chests
Dessert is served! Molten towers of pale sunshine, glazed with deep caramel
are brought up, set meticulously, with simpering looks

I walk along these Halls and I think about how untarnished these little Birds and Statues and oddities are; they are all each consumed in their own Fantasies, vying for a lovely Lime-Green Berry when there’s a Bloodred one up much higher.