Mercy by Don Thompson

                      Ben Seidelman CC



Mercy


Again last night, barely audible,
those old rumors of mercy
drifted down from the north,
mentioned by the wind in passing--
under its breath,
almost as if embarrassed.

Denied by owls—officially.
Mocked by coyotes
in the winter fields behind our house.

A fool’s solace.  Maybe.

Confirmed only by feral cats
that live by faith,
showing up on the porch at sunrise,
never doubting that I’ll have mercy
and feed them.

​

Don Thompson has been writing about the San Joaquin Valley for over fifty years, including a dozen or so books and chapbooks.  Retired from teaching in a prison, he lives with his wife, Chris, on her family’s fourth generation farm near Buttonwillow.  For more info and links to publishers, visit his website at www.don-e-thompson.com.

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