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The Sonnet of a Stray

Translucent whispers, while you catch me,

withering from the weight of the world, lust. And now

The dog of a millionaire’s mansion is staring back at me. Window reflecting

the mindless mind. They can see ghosts, they say. There’s never any strays

here in north Chicago. I can’t say the same about the puddle-filled

alleyways. Rubber souls splash the pavement not loud enough.

Those innocent eyes screeching. The little fuzzball extracted

every color from the sun, orange bursts. Your diminutive body huddles for

warmth under the rotten garbage. As I crouch luring you to what could

be. You’re beckoned away. Those eyes are soaked into me,

I’ll feel the weight of your grievances with the world. Your paws

track the next morning’s dew. You’ll always stop me in my tracks.

The golden retriever perched on the satin loveseat.

And then the stray kitten, huddled under the garbage.

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