The Hawk Kitchen 6:30pm
I have My Big Black Cat Astro
Who could be targeted by Halloween pranksters
as warned by a cat-loving Secretary
Astro cannot be let out
until Cover of Darkness
and this at My Husband’s insistence
— He thinks Astro is safe —
if anything happened to My Astro
I would be inconsolably bereft
My Art Framer Al Delaney
former Mayor of Shelburne, Nova Scotia
called this morning
to tell Me He finished framing
My Letter from former Mayor Ed Koch
of New York City
& My Letter from former Governor Tom Kean
of New Jersey
written upon The Completion
of My Ten-thousand Square-foot Elliptical Spiral
on The Roof of The Former #5 World Trade Center
You appeared in the doorway
of an old-fashioned water closet
temporarily housing Me
I lifted My Bandaged Right Hand
in front of You
— snapped It in place —
& You laughed
The Hawk Living Room 6:00pm
I’m savouring the last vestiges
of Sun
with the end of My Beer
before Our Nor’ Easter
combines with Hurricane Sandy
to form the already famous “Frankenstorm”
of 2012 —
could The Election be postponed?
How pleasant that was
having Eliza bring out Her Laundry Basket
to fold Her Clothes beside Me
as We both sat on The Stoop
listless in The Afternoon Light
— no wind —
mild enough for bare feet or socks
while We imagined what kind
of House Wife She would be:
“Better than You,” She said
I said, “So rich You would have a maid”
“So rich I could micro-lend
to poor women in Saudi Arabia”
My Big Black Super Cat Astro
is sprung from My Right Shoulder
like The Head of The Beautiful Dark Haired Woman
Who told Me nineteen years ago Today
in The Most Melodious Voice
I had ever heard:
“You Know The Meaning Of Life
& So You Are A Star —
so go to sleep”
The Hawk West Desk Window 10:22pm
I was That Ballet Dancer
twirling madly in any psychiatrist’s fantasy
exposing My 101 Split-second Facial Expressions
aimed at an imaginary upper corner Camera —
or was It Imaginary?
in a room of no furnishings
except for one rubber mattress
repeatedly blanketed over
by Me
to grow a garden
of hair & spit
before My Assemblage
got
WRECKED-ified
Joanna Gilman Hyde 