Downstairs Neighbor

Downstairs Neighbor 

The day promises a scorching heat

grackles call out

the bird feeder is empty!

Fidgety squirrel squats on the gutter

peers down

on the lookout for three menacing dogs

who love the chase

a tipped lantern recalls last night's 

gathering of friends around a fire pit

roasting marshmallows

melting chocolate on graham crackers 

silent flowering cacti

embrace a mean sun

and the new season that will anchor them

to the rocky Texan soil

And there she sat

on a patio chair

crawling deeper

everyday into a grieving well

poor economics

bad job

constantly 

stuffed up head 

"I can't fuckin' smell"

she yelled across the yard

Is it worse than the cancer?

Her morning was night and night

The day 

An owl

A hungry panther

pouncing upon the hint

of a hopeful call 

and maybe just maybe 

a different diagnosis 

We heard 

We prayed 

And she roared 

Despair and disappointment

The massive cedars

towering pecan 

the heavy branched elms

could not muffle her wail and cry

for a job

for some hope

or just the simple aroma of

brewing coffee

for acceptance

Listen my sweet to the flutter of wings

Do you hear the fledglings begging for food 

chirp chirp chirp 

They can muffle the sound of a

terminal ticking clock

Ah look, the backyard gate is open
in comes yet another wave 

of untouchable heat about 

to settle with endurance

for another morbid day

into your now empty patio seat.