Pepper the Cat Poem by Leah Cohenour

Years ago, when I lived in Vancouver BC, we decided to
get a cat. so we went to the SPCA. As we looked
around the cat section, we saw all sorts of cute
kittens and cats. Then there was this one, rather
strange looking, scraggly animal. He was skinny and
had a strange look on his face.
as the children looked at him, he let out this
plaintive ‘meow’ that immediately melted all their
hearts.

above his cage was a sign which read “I’m really not
a mean or scary cat, I’m friendly”

he was given the name “Cauliflower” because his
previous owner had let an ear infection get out of
control. He apparently scratched his ears to shreds
so the staff gave him the name “Cauliflower” ( as in
Cauliflower ears-)
that’s the story of the name and how we got him.
since then he has been a beloved member of the
household giving love and only asking for our total
worship and allegiance.

***

The Sun Was Well Up Poem by Wayne Jackson

The Sun Was Well Up
By Wayne Jackson 1950-1989

circa 1978

The sun was well up now and what clouds that were, left grey tufts of themselves, lay east, sharply delineated wisps, grey solitary clumps of them maybe fifteen miles away. It was good flatland between here and there. The sun was warm but low.It warmed all those slivers of clothes I wore because I am so cold natured. On the other hand it takes a hot july sun to make me break a sweat. Things even up…..sorta. and I knew I would be able to get even with all those bastards who wander around the job in November wearing a tshirt. I would get even with all those people who stood comfortably in that bleak wintry scene, who looked on scornfully while, every muscle in me, was fighting the cold while while two sides of myself argued over control. Self on saying “Listen Jack, it’s only Tuesday”

Copyright © 1997 by Donald Wayne Jackson, All rights reserved

Ready Poem by Moshe Benarroch

Ready
~~~~~~~~~~

Used to say I am ready to die
but I was a coward
I was not ready to live

second hand lives
lives of few seconds

Used to say I was ready to die
now I am willing to live
to die anyday now
ready to live ready to leave.

***

My parents Poem by Moshe Benarroch

Finally I thank my parents
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Everything I ever learned
came from my parents’ mistakes
the solutions of one generation
are the problems of the next

Whatever they did to help me
was against my nature
Swimming against the waves
I learned where my future was

I shouted and cried until I silenced
and there I could see my angels
helping me to get through

It happened in dreams where
funny films were screened before me
waking me up, my laughs from nowhere.

***

Witches Poem by MOSHE BENARROCH

Witches
~~~~~~

The witches look lovely tonight
they are all dressed for the wedding
of Lilith and Prince Charles
Their noses are perfect
and they walk to applaud
the love they always had
The witches they have names
that burn the water that tighten
their belly to the next oven
and we all know the witches love you
they love kings and princes
they love poets and slaves
they love everything
for they are witches
and their loves are ashes.

***