Escaping Tyranny

the cat always vanished as the man approached
hiding in the shadows as quiet as a mouse

the house fell silent, the walls became all ears,
leaning, straining forward, the better they may hear

the fear of his footsteps, coming closer now
i stayed very still, my expression was a mask

my thoughts were my own, untouchable, my home
a cat will vanish, i could only wait

confronted by this hatred
i  escaped,
i had learned to levitate

The Music Room

two notes echo still

near the piano

they hover

middle C, B flat

a warm scent

jasmine and almonds

hangs in the air

footsteps

softly retreating

I remember that

whenever I think

of the music room

the passageway

door to the garden

open a crack

the window

looks out to the sea

where the tides

roll out and back

washed over grey

to the distant blue