The cats who live around me
adorn my porch with body parts
head of lizard, tail of galliwasp, belly of snake.
The Cat People claim they are
love offerings.
Who can know for sure?
Strange to me
to bring dead things
as signs of life and love.
They come; they go
these cats,
like whims.
I hesitate to call them mine.
I give them crunchy kibbles and water.
They purr; I smile.
It seems to work, this arrangement.
You bring me cut flowers
their legs bound with rubber bands
their heads wilting even as they bloom.
I consider the arrangement
and hurry them to water
dying.