Street Songs 21

a cotillion of cougars
met with concerns about
the food chain misbehaving
lessons to be learned
but salted, smoked lamb
was not the same as
the fresh variety

the coyote herd dogs
were also a force
to be considered
their desire for retaliation
was far advanced
misunderstood
coyotes being tricksters

there was some thought
to running a coyote
for president
but they all wanted to run
so the sheep
repeatedly elected
a cougar as their protector

© 2007 Sandy Vrooman

Street Songs 20

one of the sheep in the herd
thought it time to stand up
to those above them in the food chain
requesting herd members not to accept
invitations from cougars for lunch
another strategy was needed
requiring thought

the herd thought
those who lived on the edge
were an appropriate sacrifice
to safe-keep the rest
they were different
if they lived in the center
like good sheep should
they would not have a problem

the thinking sheep was accused
of wearing wolf’s clothing
he was tarred black
and sent out to the edges
as a peace offering
the cougars didn’t like his smell
instead they dropped pretense
of invitations and dined alfresco

the one now known as black sheep
still had visions of the herd
taking a stand to move
rather than sit and wait
he imagined them stampeding
the smaller number of cougars
without any problems
the herd thought he was nuts

© 2007 Sandy Vrooman

Street Songs 19

I sit comfortable out of step
uniform disheveled
in the herd
of automata that it takes
to perpetuate a society
a bandit of serenity
stealing the curtains
put before the eyes
of the faithful
painted with singular dreams
of picket fences
and vacant smiles
I sing of the joys of freedom
open spaces and dew drops
sauciness of taste sensations
laughing at straight lines
wriggling through the cracks
I thrive

(c) 2007 Sandy Vrooman