the retail clerk stops suddenly
a praying mantis clings to her shoe
“hello buddy,” she says
she bends down and scoops it up
it says nothing but starts up her arm
“I’m working,” she giggles
she brushes it back into her hand
and brings it close to her eyes
“you’re beautiful,” she says
she ignores a customer’s quiet call
and sets it on a leaf on a bush outside
“stay safe,” she says
it does stay safe for six more months
neither think about each other again

daylong daydream
end it on the porch
with him in my arms
white paws and curiosity
perfectly content

my little lovely
sitting atop his new throne
little paws hang over the edge
tail curls around him luxuriously
I admire your poise and dignity

shy and demure
bobcat moseys
through tall yellow grass
eyes are watchful
animal! animal!
subtle intensity
quick chase
bobcat eats

red bug on my pants
undulates its antennae
I lean forward to see
and red bug flies away
and I let it go

coyote sat on a throne of branches
yip, yip, yip, he decreed
rabbit complied as best she could
deer committed the order to memory
wolf went on his business
crow started a revolution
bobcat scratched at the throne
the branches snapped
and coyote fell to the ground
twisting his hind leg
four years later he still lifts it extra

Monomorium minimum
little black ant
drags 20 times its weight
a superhero hated
a superhero unnoticed
wreaks havoc at the church picnic
drags away the crumbs of sweet bread
humans run and scream
slapping themselves
destruction at its most unintentional
little black ant at the center

shooting birds in the dark
can’t use eyes
use memory of the past
and sound of their song
be accurate
stray bullets have consequences
steady hands
steady mind
hysteria won’t do
they’re just birds
but kindness is necessary

black spider makes its home
spins thread under my bureau
upside down man on the floor sees
we seek but do not find
ever vigilant for a predator
but black spider goes about its business

uncommon pack of coyotes
stalk the purple snow
approach the house
tease the shepherd within
eat his food
but eye the deer
browsing on the hill
still but seen
yip and howl
the coyotes race
go for the neck
not this time
but the opportunity
is repeating