Photo courtesy Hillary Jones
The Huntress
We set her free
an outdoor spirit
never to be tamed
We watched her roam
around the gardens
searching for random game
“Huntress,” they called her
devourer of souls
born from the coaly earth below
soft as stardust
dark as the night
quiet as the whispering willow blows
Be careful, we warned them
don’t look in vain
at fleeing for your life
Our huntress will come
and take you away
with claws as slick as a knife
atop the hills
beneath the hedge
within the baby ferns below
around the house
balancing a plank
as a hellish pirate’s prisoner goes
The day is now done
she returns to us from
her jungle world outside
The rabbits sleep
the birds nestle in
the little ones run and hide
And I now sleep
with the huntress tonight
a cat purring on my bed
who could’ve stayed out
to delight in more hunting
but chose my company instead
Innumerable Stumble 