i sit rocking in my chair
and does not rock quite as it should
dreams and chores struggle for my limited attention
when suddenly, cutting through all that, a smell rather than a sight
it is the smell of horse
rich and rancid
common, everyday for me, yet compelling
powerful enough to transfix me
hold me to that moment
----
----
the rain is like a wild, fearsome creature in these parts
we do not like to call it our climate
nor can we call it an aberration
for it is an ever present force
restless, and wild
it gouges out huge chunks from our roofs
and hammers inexplicable holes into the ground
turns salt and sugar into indistinguishable pastes
and makes the house the sole refuge of the ants
the earthworms and termites