Obligations

 

Listening to Miles

at the Baby Bar,

savoring a stout

from Boundary Bay;

 

I could stay,

could spend the evening

 

listening to Miles.

 

But the dogs wait,

wanting food,

wanting a walk,

 

and the burritos

are wrapped

and bagged-to-go.

 

I could stay with Miles

and the stout.

 

But besides the dogs

There is, of course, the wife---

 

and the cat, that blessed cat,

don’t get me started

on the cat,

 

that once-feral cat,

who abides only me

and no other

 

and has not been seen

and I have not yet found

 

since the snowplow passed,

three days back.

---

William Hudson was born in Arkansas, grew up both there and in Illinois, lives now in Spokane, where he works for a community action agency.