Calico mosquito

Cat sits in sun by empty fire pit

wearing a grey and white patched coat

watching squirrels watch her watch them

watching her stare as if

in aligned mirrors.

The squirrels know she knows

she cannot reach them, but she tries again

and again and again, because maybe just maybe

she might get lucky.

April showers bring May flowers

and storms and floods and mosquitoes

that suck and suck and suck blood.

You itch and scratch and scratch and itch;

arms covered in scabs,

but still you go outside again and again and again,

because maybe just maybe

you might get lucky

and they choose someone else.

5-10-22