I
My wife
Talks to animals.
Most people do;
But my wife
Questions,
Convinced that they reply.
“Turkey and Giblets, today,
Or Ocean Whitefish?”
This to the feral cats
That abide
On our front porch.
“OK, Turkey it is.”
I, of course,
Hear nothing—
Unattuned
To the hum
Of purr.
II
My wife
Places talismans
About the house.
Ceramic turtles
(Created
In her kiln)
Assure good luck.
But, during the Year
Of the Pig,
They must face west!
III
My wife
Made strange
Ceramic
Pendant beads
To dangle
At the neck.
Hard to describe—
Four faces, each
Sharing an eye
Of the one
Adjacent,
Alternately Scowl
And Smile.
“They’re amulets,”
She patiently
Points out.
“They keep you
Safe
From the plague.”
(They sold
Like hotcakes
At the fair!)
IV
My wife’s
A research scientist
With a Ph.D.
In Molecular
Biology.
Clear evidence:
Neither Testament,
Nor Data
Out of sterile labs
Displaces
Ancient Magic:
Hope trumps Fact
And always has.
(5/14/07)