Photography © Jennifer Matthews

 

Cat’s Paw

Wishes like leftover stalks of corn:
every evening since my nephew died
I look out over the dark expanse
of furrowed fields
like shallow graves into the gloom
cast by the tall pines
their branches raking the dry needles,
a lover’s hair across your face;
more like a cat’s toy snatched away
at the last moment,
whiskers twitching with every shake.
It’ll only get darker as the night goes on.
You can almost hear the laughter.

 

Richard K. Ostrander currently resides in the Carolinas. He has co-hosted the longest running open mic (Covid notwithstanding) in North Carolina at the Coffee Scene in Fayetteville, NC. Richard has been published numerous both on-line and in print. He has two books, The Epic of Hell Freeze and The Metaphysicians Daughter, both published by BlazeVOX Books.

Poet/Photographer Jennifer Matthews’ poetry has been published in Nepal by Pen Himalaya and locally by the Wilderness Retreat Writers Organization, Midway Journal, The Somerville Times, Ibbetson Street Press and Boston Girl Guide. Jennifer was nominated for a poetry award by the Cambridge Arts Council for her book of Poetry Fairy Tales and Misdemeanors. Her songs have been released nationally and internationally and her photography has been used as covers for a number of Ibbetson Street Press poetry books and has been exhibited at The Middle East Restaurant, 1369 Coffeehouses, Sound Bites Restaurant in Somerville and McLean Hospital.