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Woman with Cat and Iris

Marilyn Buck

three purple iris
poised among crystal dew
morning-blurred sun
back drops black birds
flickering across day canvas
raucous as they sip
from glistening blades
Mustafah, grey tomcat sits
regal beggar awaiting
free-fall breakfast
and I, a prisoner, luxuriate
wealthy in morning light
wrapped in this anywhere world tableau
guards' voices clang
the last drops of bitter coffee
nudge my lips into resolution
Mustafah flees
Sunday becomes prison

August 1997
This poem appeared in Rescue the Word


Marilyn's home page, her Wild Poppies poetry CD, other poems, Autobiographi (poem), Rescue the Word (poetry chap book), writings on prison control units, on "Legal Issues for Women in Federal Prison", "On the Burning of African-American Churches".


prisonspolitical prisoner home pagepolitical prisoner listingMarilyn Buck – Woman with Cat and Iris

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April 2, 2005