Category: Soundtracks
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The Old Woman With No Cat

The Cat’s Nocturnal Quest (Or: a brief romance in three acts) ACT I: THE EXIT“Don’t wait up, old woman,” he purrs,tail held high like a banner of mischief.“I have… errands.Of a personal nature.Involves a wicked womanand a well-stocked pantry.” ACT II: THE RETURNDawn finds him back on the windowsill,whiskers tipped with cream,a single sardine tin…
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AprPAD — Day 30

How to Bend a Spoon somehowher younger self still knows —step back into her shadow. “the apples will be abundant this year,” she says,changing the subject.“ripe before autumn.” she watches the sun drink from a puddle,summer not quite here. “you’re not special,” he says.“such foolishness.doula-foola.nonsense —humming to a fallen bird,as if it hears you.” a…
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AprPAD — Day 29

A Pocketful of Reasons the birds began first,then wind in the high leaves and suddenlythe whole forestwas louder than thinking. some bloodlines,my grandmother said,keep watchwhere the seen worldthins. perhaps that is whybirds sing harderin the trees, and small creaturesfind uswhen they are leaving. they seem to know. in my pocketa silence I can’t namefeathers, still…
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AprPAD — Day 28

Breakfast, and Other Small Violences the spoon snappinglike a jack russellat the bowl, metaltapping his teeth — a bright, unbearable code. Stop scraping. The chew,the crunch … do I sound like thisto the world? like a broomworrying the floorwith every breath? His phone leansagainst the salt shaker, thumb scrollingthrough other lives. Againthat scrape. I step…
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AprPAD — Day 27

Afterward There Was the Afternoon a napin the afternoon sun, where poems wait birds arguingin hedges sunlighton warming soil breezesoscillating roots that resisted yesterdaybut not today the quiet satisfactionof looseningwhat does not belong weeding is good editorial practice, after all. keep what thrives.lift what crowds. make space for what wants light. and while I work,no…
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AprPAD — Day 26

Last Thing I’d Expect she says last Sundayshe woke with a rash. five days laterthe rash goestop to toe. all gone now — had a jab of somethingwith a long name. Giles has moved back home with his wife,and their dog. I comment on the carparkedin front of her house. she nods.that’s his. did I…
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AprPAD — Possible Intro

This one may become the opening poem for a Writers’ Digest Poem-a-Day Challenge chapbook. Domestic Constellations I look at my husband, smile as if this were stilla beginning. He has views.He is Danish. A Vikingin modern synthetics creased into the armchairwith his newspaper, dry as kindling,sparking onlywhen it suits him. We makean unlikely map: married…
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AprPAD — Day 25

Happiness Remixed the leaves lift,bounce— wind under a wing. blackbird singing,not to be seen, though its tunecarries. magpie lands, finds a mealin betweenblades of grass. it’s a dayfor openingall the windows. Written for Writers’ Digest Poem-a-Day Challenge for April 2026. Prompt word: Remix. Not all images are created using Midjourney, but all writing is my…
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AprPAD — Day 24

Of Those Who Leave Mike is dying. Slowly enoughto count by months. December, pneumonia.January,his gallbladder gone. I take Lindy out for lunch, an afternoon awayfrom the smellsof the sick room. We talkabout ordinary things. The afternoon is hersfor the asking. She stares past the door,into the hallway, but her thoughts stopwhere her fingersgrip the fork.…
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AprPAD — Day 23

Wild Garlic (a juxtaposition poem) the creek runs deep in the gulley, sandbagged slopes. every winterit breaks its banks. I’m pickingwild garlic, tall stalks,white blossoms. then a dogsquats over the bestof it. Written for Writers’ Digest Poem-a-Day Challenge for April 2026. Prompt word: a juxtaposition poem. Image and poem ©Misky 2006-2026.