The Encounter Poem by Steven Federle

Stretched
on sun-warm carpet,
gazing out on fenced wilderness, she draws furred legs
to furthest extremity; claws extend and retract
as she clenches her
padded fist.

Then
in an instant she's on all fours,
back arched, whiskered mouth grimaced to
horrible grin as she growls and spits
into the gleaming window.

Looking back,
assured by double-pane,
the bird, all feather and fearless eye,
wonders at this new, strange
creature glaring inside.