Sage Poem by Charlotte Ballard

Sage, an ordinary tabby,
Climbs into the empty
Dr. Pepper carton,
Head first -
My grown daughter and I
Laugh as he wiggles in.

Adopted at birth,
But not by me-
The thread pulls her
Close enough for me
To see steel in
Tongue, eyebrow,
And nose.
Her Rubenesque
Body spills out
From her shirt, and
I want to touch that
Flesh given up as an
Unmarried teenager.
Not knowing that
I’d always hunger to feel
That flesh, brown-
That laughing, dancing voice
With eyes that keep time.
I dare not -

And we both laugh
As Sage squeezes
All of his body in-
Leaving only his
Tail behind.