small
deaths
amid the
crying and the smoke and fire
one kit survived, one kit with tiny furred
appendages which play at fierce attack
one small paw in the saucer with clean water
three
small cats died, it seemed a gruesome
mourning when the larger issues flew before
our eyes, the last one breathed its last
in early morning on my third son's neck
we buried
them in water, sang them
on their way upon the lake, and could not
tell our anguish to the many mourning folk
whose families had been lost
but mourn
we did, of Bear who was the fattest
and the swiftest, not yet ten days yet loved
and one unnamed, too early dead, and midget,
in love with human heartbeat, pulse and smell
Copyright © 2001 Silvia Antonia Brandon Pérez
