Cat Dreams II by Barbara Black
Cat Dreams II
“The lyre of Orpheus opens the door
to the underworld.” A. E. Hoffman, composer

 

A yin/yang of fur
on a lyre-backed chair,
conjuring foxy hunters,
liminal landscapes –
this portal to a lapis land,
unmapped and beckoning,
behind – or called forth?

 

Like smoke from hidden fires,
sigils and runes swirl –
the stillness is deceiving
as feline phantasies roil.

 

Lescaux, Altamira, Chauvet: sinews of sires
and dams charcoaled in night,
speaking in cat tongue, gathering strength.

 

Sisters, do your omens seep
into mine? Are you Bastet’s minions
protecting the One hearth, or
rapier-clawed stalkers, shredding
my pillowed hopes, chasing me
out into the snow?

 

Catherine McGuire is a writer and artist with a deep concern for our planet’s future. She has 4 decades of published poetry, 4 poetry chapbooks and a full-length poetry book,  Elegy for the 21st Century, (FutureCycle Press). Find her at www.cathymcguire.com.

 

Barbara Black is one of the founding members of Blackfish Gallery in Portland, OR. Her media include painting, drawing, with some printmaking and sculpture. Her work has been exhibited widely in the Northwest and also in California, Chicago and the Czech Republic. She has also been a teacher at numerous colleges in Oregon.

Willawaw Journal

Share
Published by
Willawaw Journal

Recent Posts

Notes from the Editor

Hello Readers, You know how it is when you focus on something like maybe your…

2 months ago

Terry Adams

Lost (2) I like to spend just a few hours once in awhile not knowing…

2 months ago

Frank Babcock

Portrait of Emily She sits in the bedroom window like curtains, whitely gazing down at…

2 months ago

Stephen Barile

Underground Gardens Legend was, After a quarrel with his father, He left Sicily behind And…

2 months ago

Llewynn Brown

Their fair share We turn at the band stand because you say it’s getting dark.…

2 months ago