For Chloe

                For Chloe
                (sestina)

When the freak tornado whooshed down, it left dangling
Roof timbers: whole rooms went to Kansas. A corner
Of the living room remained intact. The sofa, a former
Reject of my ex, still sagged gracefully under the shelter
Of the bookcase which teetered, nearly ejecting the radio
That miraculously still played. Oh no! Where’s the cat?

The day started normally enough. I laughed with my cat
Who is always enchanted, mesmerized by my dangling
Earrings. She paws at them in time with the radio
Music playing in the background. From the corner
Of my eye, I can see a baby lizard trying to find shelter
From the Great Huntress, Chloe, who used to be a former

Scaredy-cat, now turned mighty. In her ignoble, former
Life, Poor Chloe was the saddest, scrawniest cat.
She was found huddled by the dumpster, taken to a shelter
Everyone thought, it was just a matter of time. Dangling
From her neck, a tattered piece of string. In the corner
Of her cage in the SPCA, she mewed pitifully to the radio

That the employees kept on for her. It was the radio
Which brought me to her. She didn’t look like my former
Feline who was fat and sassy. From her tiny corner
Chloe stared at me, hoping yet not daring to. Another cat
Was cavorting next to her but I only had eyes for her dangling
Tattered thread. Hurriedly, I whisked her from the shelter

Brought her home; fed her a lot; kept her in the shelter
Of my arms. We laughed, played, and even danced to the radio.
Then IT hit with a raucous laugh. A  roar left dangling
Wood; doors where they shouldn’t be. My cozy former
Home was gone! A plank snagged my leg. I yelled at the cat
To run…RUN! The last I saw she sat in the corner

Looking at me, saying good-bye.  EMTs came, grabbed a corner
Of the board, freeing me They brought me to a shelter
Filled with injured people, no pets. I hoped the cat
Was OK. They wouldn’t let me leave until the radio
Announced, “All Clear.” I hitched an anxious ride to my former
Home, hoping all was not lost. As I pushed through the dangling

Rubble, I spied movement in the corner near the radio.
Under the sagging sofa shelter, a tiny head appeared, my former
Phoenix, Chloe, beloved cat, waited for me, her flea collar dangling.