Felis marinus

[Cat sits in a bird­bath
emp­ty except for the cat]

Roll your
nine striped tail
and blink ? one eye slow­er
than the oth­er.

A ship­wreck if a red­bird
comes bathing and finds
you instead of bath­wa­ter.

Swag­ger and turn,
wind in jaun­ty
tail. Close your
last var­nished eye.

Put har­poon teeth away,
swab fur clean,
stretch your sail tight­ly.

Cat­nap. Invent
bathing bright
car­di­nals, or bat
down a nuthatch.

[Cat sleeps in a bird­bath
emp­ty except for the cat

- and dreams of marooned birds].