The random prompt for this morning’s practice round was to write a prose poem about an animal and then add the line and stanza breaks. Due to getting used to uploading the poem again, I thought I better post the draft version so sadly, it isn’t well edited due to time. This gives me a sense of what tomorrow will feel like in ‘real time’.

You are no fluff ball of fur
but short-haired and bright orange,
like the sun during the fire haze.
Your belly is not dragging on the ground
but you flatter for a gluttony of attention

and food.

You are not docile rolls of extra weight
but lean and wild, like a tiger. Your striped
tail harkening to your presence in the young
bamboo shoots where you hide. Instinct
driving your haunches low to the ground

for hunting.

You do not greet me at the door when my
work day is done but come running to see
me, anyway. Even when cars make the
way dangerous. Your two-syllable name
rolling off my tongue easily, as if you

were mine.