Jeffry Jensen

PRESSING THE PARTS INTO SUBMISSION

Jorie left her backdoor open for her five cats

to escape for an afternoon run in the woods.

She decided that it was best to do her exercise regimen without distractions.

The knees were problematic, the lower back seemingly a lost cause.

She opened apps on her smartphone so that she could

stay on course with the online hunky instructor.

The cats were usually back at the door in less than an hour.

They had been there and done that enough times

and treats were on the menu for their impending snack time.

Jorie was in love with Persian poetry, gardening in short stints,

and vintage tv mysteries without all the blood splatter

that seems to permeate so-called modern programming.

Even at 74, she can dutifully still roll out of bed a 5 am

for the morning feeding of Rumi, Hafez, Omar Khayyam, Ferdowsi, and Rudaki.

The oldest cat is 12 (Rumi) and the youngest comes in at 2 (Rudaki).

They love to sleep with her at night either next to her puffy pillows

or curled up around the legs so that she is almost curled

into the fetal position for the duration or until it is time for that midnight pee.

For the new year, Jorie has resolved that she will submit to their prescription

of venturing into the unknown with poetry on her lips and adventure in her heart.