Animal Antics
a poem by Barbara Hilal

backyard dog
shakes whole body
leaps high
loses chain
chews screen door
tracks in mud
cat in bed
dog in bed
mud in bed
cat arches back
leaps on floor
dog barks at bird
cat jumps on chair
cat leaps at bird cage
cage door opens
bird flies out
door bell rings
postman slips letter with check under door
dog barks
pulls at letter
chews it up
puts paws on fish tank
fish tank falls
breaks
dog skids on floor
knocks over trash
cat runs and slides to trash
chicken bones grits
coffee grounds
dog carries chicken bone under bed
finds women's shoe
chews on both
takes bone and shoe to living room
jump on damask couch
bird flies into window
cat jumps in window upsets plant
plant falls on floor breaks
cat goes to sleep
dog goes to sleep
lady comes home
expects guests
 
ad in paper
back yard dog
house cat