It's Still Life

Part 2: The Cat Explains Shorting Futures to the Old Woman

the cat—still not hers,
and never will be—
strikes a dow-er pose
and explains shorting.

“you borrow a tuna can today (worth 10),
sell it immediately,
then wait for the price to crash to 5.
you buy back the same can for 5,
return it to the lender,
and pocket the difference.”

“thank you—i think,” the old woman nods,
and tucks her gratitude
into her reasons not to burn the world today, filed between long naps and good coffee.

the cat, ever the pedant,
adds a footnote:
“also: shorting works on mice,
but the ethics are murky.”

the crow drops a stolen Wall Street for Animals pamphlet:
next lesson: hostile takeovers
(see: birdfeeders, 2019)