haikus to my old house

pet cemetery -

the bones of old cats sleeping,

chasing childhood dreams.

**********

mouldy sheetrock blooms

where a tree fell through the roof,

letting in the rain.

**********

my grandfather's love

was to distant to be felt;

but I have his name.

Dedicated

Cathy dear, a very happy birthday!

2002

Love, Barbara

So goes the dedication in the book

of Billy Collins' poems I just picked up

for three bucks at the book exchange in town.

Cathy dear, how did it come to pass that

you would toss away this gift? Did you and

Barbara have a falling out? I can't

imagine that you didn't like the verse

that Mr. Collins crafts: his style and wit

transcend the bounds of age and taste and time.

Who else, I ask, can wax poetical

about the funny, sad and musical;

the every day, Art Blakey, and the things

that you or I would never think to write

a poem about? Cathy dear, your loss is

my reward, a prize, your birthday gift

to me!