October – Slider

By Cliff Lake

 

October – Slider

 

He was told it did not exist…

Here it was.

It was slippery in the sight,

As if it were both not here,

And were.

It was almost not seen,

It almost was.

It oozed out of the vision,

It earned the name:

Slider.

Cattle had gone missing,

No longer the mystery.

He had been told it did not exist.

His eyes were trying to do the same.

Seven, nine, maybe more cows gone,

The thing was quiescent now,

After such a meal,

One needs a nap.

Still, its hunger was palpable,

Felt even in the ears, the nostrils,

One anticipated being consumed,

As if the appetite had a life all its own.

Although it seemed not to sense him,

He retreated, facing it, keeping it in

(sight).

He would find the Uncle,

He that did not deny sliders,

And claimed to have killed one.

Most said he lied,

Today, what he (sees)

Says otherwise.

A slider was near,

A slider was here.

This would need dispatched,

Before it sensed

Sweeter meat could be had,

Or at the very least,

The more entertaining hunt.

Yes,

He would seek out the Uncle,

That they might hunt the Hunter,

And it slide from vision no longer.

 

Cliff Lake 9/25/2024

Copyright © Clifford Lake 2024

Location: Wichita, KS, USA

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