Month: August 2012

The Cardinal

Fear grabs me by the throat on my way out.
I look up, the sun turns its face and I see a cardinal-
beak upturned, its regal crown made of fire-
a garbage truck screeches by. I look up again
to see a vacant white gutter.
Quickly opening the door and locking myself in the garage
breath not coming easy enough to keep calm.
A two minute pep talk and a click of a button
the dying sun creeps into the garage.

Backing out I park, click, and wait
for the door to close.
one ,two, three
by one, two, three
with one, two, three-
door stays closed, allowing me to release
focus.
Rear view mirror, a small cardinal red truck
lights shining through my eyes and fear strikes again.

‘Calm, got to stay calm.’ It can smell fear a mile away.
steady speed, turn signal on, three clicks, then off
turning slowly, a crowd gathers as chainsaws rip
through fresh wounds in the limb of a fallen tree.
They don’t even notice the red demon following
as I try to escape.

Turn, and turn, and one last turn
it keeps following close, then further
then closer again. I slow as I turn left
and the beast stays on a forward path.
Breath comes (finally).

Thirteen more blocks and I’ve stopped atop the damage.
leaves and limbs screaming at the wind.
A white cat appears from the stoop as she leans over to pick it up.
“Does she look like a domesticated cat ?”
I look in the rearview, “Not sure.
But red things are following me, make sure one doesn’t follow
me when I pull away.”

She laughs and points at me, waving at them.
(I must have imagined that, right?)
So I pull away and make an immediate turn.
I can hear something growl… or was it a purr ?

Three more red things following me,
but I make it home, and safe-
In the garage.
Hot air sinks in and clogs my pores, making it
impossible to breathe.

‘Only twenty more steps’ I tell myself. Twenty
more steps and I’m safe (inside)

With a fluid motion: right wrist turns, pulls open
the door, a quick stride as I
nearly leap from the doorway,
closing behind (breathe,
step, step, step)
back door sliding open,
cool air rushing  into
my lungs, slamming humid air
and menace outside and…

Breath. Cool… slow… breath.

I look up and in the yellow streetlight, I see
a cardinal flying away.