My book

[sumbirdy]

AT NIGHT

Somehow during the dark night
When she was shaking, shivering with fright
She came upon the light of day
Something that seemed so far away.
She seemed to be walking forever
Each step she took, her legs grew heavier
She just kept walking toward that light
Something warm and soft and bright
It was the nightlight that shone in her room
To scare away the monsters and ghosts, I assume
She was in her bed, not on the road
But that was not how the story was told.

[Whisk_Luva]

cool! I love writing!

[sumbirdy]

THE DAY THAT THEY LEFT

They went out one day
To go shopping, or so they said
With feathers on their shoulders
And big hats on their head
“We’ll be back soon,
We’re just going to town
Don’t be too much trouble
Don’t fool around.”
They gave the maid some money
To buy her supplies
They gave the cook a list
Of the food she needs to buy
“We’ll be back soon
Don’t you worry
We’ll do our best
To try to hurry”
After they left
They never came home
And they left their little boy
All alone.

[sumbirdy]

The last four lines of this poem were written by cyber-sibes

PUPPY MILL DOG

If I was somebody else’s dog
I wouldn’t be in this place
If I was somebody else’s dog
There wouldn’t be so much pain to face
If I was somebody else’s dog
I wouldn’t be so alone
If I was somebody else’s dog
I would have a home
If I was somebody else’s dog
I wouldn’t be locked in this cage
If I was somebody else’s dog
I wouldn’t have to deal with their rage
If I was somebody else’s dog
I would be a good dog too
If I was somebody else’s dog
Somebody like you.

[sumbirdy]

MORNING ROUTINE

It was early morning and Scout, a West Highland White Terrier, was up and ready to be outside. He loved mornings, the birds, the children getting on the bus, the mailman who gave him treats, he loved it all. He wiggled out of his doggy-door-he might need to cut back on those treats-and went to wake up Siren, the orange tabby cat from next door.
He went into her yard and looked around. Where was she anyway? Usually she’s…oh, there she was by the tree with her tail curled over her nose.
He crept up to her. “Siren? Siren, it’s morning.” Nothing. “Siren?” He nudged the cat with his nose. One eye slowly slid open then closed again. “Siren? Are you awake?”
“No.” Siren was not a morning cat.
“It’s time to get up and start the day. Come on!”
Both eyes opened and she slowly got up and stretched. “Oh, alright! You’ll just keep bugging me about it if I don’t. You’d make a good fly, you know?”
But he hardly heard her. He was bounding off down the sidewalk, tail wagging happily.
Chubby little mutt, she thought. Sometimes she just couldn’t believe she was friends with such an unorganized, loud, happy creature.
She caught up with him a minute later. He was stopped in front of old Mrs. Hobbers, listening intently, his head tilted slightly, tail wagging slowly.
She sauntered up to them and was disgusted by what she was hearing.
“Whose a coote wittle dawgy?”
“Woof!”
“Does the coote wittle dawgy want a treat?”
“Woof!” Tail wagging more fiercely now, he was getting excited over the prospect of a treat. And this wasn’t even the mailman!
“Oh! And here’s his coote wittle kitty friend!”
Siren thought about hissing but she only did that in extreme cases. Besides, there was a treat involved.
“Oh, this is good!” Scout exclaimed, bounding in circles.
Siren grunted.
After they left Mrs. Hobbers they went to the bus stop. Scout loved the kids and Siren didn’t mind them as long as they didn’t step on her tail.
“Do you think they’ll let me on today?” Scout asked.
“No, I don’t thin they will. They don’t let dogs on the bus.” Siren told him.
“Why?”
“Umm…well it’s complicated, okay? You wouldn’t understand.”
“Oh, here come the children!” Scout bounced up and down. They came and petted him and he licked their faces which produced squeals of laughter.
Siren lay on the grass nearby pretending to be uninterested. What she would never admit to anyone though, especially not to Scout, is that she enjoyed watching the exchange.
The bus squealed to a stop and the children piled on. Scout reached out a paw and stuck it on the bottom step and received a stern “No! Bad dog!” from the bus driver. He seemed upset for a second but was quickly happy again when the children leaned out of the bus windows to yell their goodbyes.
After the bus left, Scout and Siren went to their next stop, the post office. Now this was the part that Siren liked best. The mailman was a no nonsense kind of guy, just a quick hello, a pat on the head, and a few treats.
“Hello there, animals.” Pat, pat. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a few dog and cat treats. “There you go, friends.”
After that, they turned and headed home for a nap and some lunch when all of a sudden a black cat with gleaming green eyes leaped from the bushes.
Siren’s fur raised. “What’s the meaning of this, Buster?” She hissed. “This is my territory and you know that.”
“My humans moved. We’re on this street now so I guess it’s mine.” Buster sneered.
Siren hissed, showing as many pointy white teeth as she could. Her sharp curved claws extended.
She stood up on her hind paws, ready to strike. Buster circled her, sizing up his opponent.
Siren hissed again, low and long. Buster hissed back. “I’m not afraid of you, kitty.”
“I guess it’s a good thing I sharpened my claws this morning, Buster.” Siren snarled.
“You might not have any claws left when I get done with you, kitty cat.” Buster threatened wickedly.
“Nobody calls me kitty cat.” She growled. He circled her again and when he came back around front she pounced.
Fur was flying, claws were scratching. There were hisses and growls and screeches and a horrible ripping sound.
All Scout saw was a blur. He couldn’t see who was winning or what was really happening. He didn’t know what to do. He heard Siren scream and that made his decision for him. He plowed through the cats, his yipping adding to the noise and they both fell to the pavement, heaving.
“I had this, Scout.” Siren said.
Scout looked at both of them. Siren had a scratch above her eye and she was limping. Buster was a lot worse off. His tail was crooked, his ear was torn, and a lot of fur was missing in patches across his body.
Buster struggled to get up. “You win Siren. This is your territory.” He limped off down the road.
“Let me look at that scratch.” Scout said, sniffing at her scratch.
“No, it’s fine. My humans will look at it. It’ll be okay.”
“Okay, I think it’s time to go home now.” Scout said wide-eyed. He hated it when anybody fought.
“Scout!”
“Siren!”
They ran off towards their humans voices. At Siren’s yard they stopped to say goodbye.
“Until tomorrow, my friend.” Scout said.
“Until tomorrow.”

[sumbirdy]

AZA

Sometimes I will sit on my bed looking
Out the window to the field next to us
At the cows, black, white, together grazing
Not making a sound, not making a fuss
And my kitten, Aza, will sit by me.
She does whatever I do, mimicking
Another species, not her own, I see
It’ll have to do for her, following
A human around the house, not wanting
To be left behind, sleeping in my bed
Sitting on my lap, my book, she’s waiting
For me to notice her, to pet her head.
As we sit here looking out the window,
I am the only “mother” she will know.

[sumbirdy]

WAITING

On December 22, 2006 I arrived at the arrival gate at the airport. People were surrounding me, waiting to pick up loved ones for Christmas. There were people with signs, babies crying, people talking about gifts and shopping and how their families were. I paid attention to none of this. Though, my eyes were fixed to the gate. People crowded around me and pushed past me but I stayed in the same spot. “Excuse me, would you like to buy…” I shook my head. They should be here soon. They should be here now. I looked out the window. It was snowing, big lazy snowflakes. What if they had an accident? What if… Then they were there and the noise and joy of it all surrounded me. They were carrying bags and presents and the screaming baby. I rushed to meet them. My family was here.