Pray for the Animals of New Orleans

Today I am angry
for having let myself read a perfume review
a perfume review
(it was cruel, a pseudoscientist ramping
on a wealthy perfumer's
natural scent efforts ...
disparaging, so-called wit)

I am angry I spent any time, any energy thinking about it.

Because I later turned to another blogpage and saw a skeletal dog,
true refugee of New Orleans
left to starve and die.

How can I spend any energy on the effete
when there is so much real pain
so much suffering
so much hurt

To which thought and energy is so much better addressed.

Looking Back ... and Looking Forward

So many souls
ascended that day.

Now New York
scarred but unbowed
Extends its hands to another sad city.

Tears like a tide,
wash the streets

clean.
Sorrow remembered, but also a reminder:
Life and hope renew themselves in time.