Sue Budin has published poems in Poetica, Third Wednesday, and The Meridian Anthology of Contemporary Poetry. Her new book of poems, After the Burn, expresses empathy with others and explores connections between visual art and language. While on staff at Ann Arbor District Library, she led writing workshops for youth and arranged poetry readings there. She’s won awards in Current magazine’s writing contest.

Orange Cat – Florence

Along one side of the Pitti Palace
he paws at the base of a sculpted range
of orange trees, a surprise in early April.

From this tableau he moves
in and out
of a shiny green curtain
embellished with these
rounded jewels
that hang like wingless cherubs.

The cat, oblivious to art, is a study,
irreligious yet sacred in this city of
framed annunciations, first and last judgments.

Some oranges have fallen but this is no sin.
The earth welcomes its fruit.
The cat weaves its way through the orange trees,
a canvas that refreshes, bears gifts like the Magi
who carried balms through the desert as a blessing.

I, too, am blessed, not cast out
of the garden.

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