MY FATHER SAVED A CAT ONCE
found her in the parking lot
of an inn, he used to manage.
A mewing sack of matted fur
her hairless tail waved at him
as he drew near. She reeked
of rotted garbage, fleas hopped
from ear to ear. My father fed her
chicken, she purred her thanks.
He scooped her up in a blanket
took her to a veterinarian and paid
for her recovery with money
marked for gambling and debts.
Alice G. Waldert is a poet and short story writer. Her work has appeared in literary journals in print and online across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Recent works have appeared in Canthius Magazine, the Rockvale Review, and The Marbled Sigh. She is working on a complete collection of poems about her experiences as a foster child and her biological parents. Alice holds an M.A. from Carleton University and an MFA in writing from Manhattanville University.