The Day After by Martha Christina

“I’ll be right there,” she said
to the finches at the feeder.

“I’ll be right back,” she told the cats,
waiting for fresh food and water.

So began the first of many days.

Sympathy cards came in the mail;
more condolences over the phone.

The cats ate and drank.
The birds emptied the feeder.


Martha Christina is a frequent contributor to Brevities. Longer work appears in Innisfree Poetry Journal, Naugatuck River Review, earlier postings of Red Eft Review, and most recently in Star 82 Review, and Crab Orchard Review. She has published two collections: Staying Found (Fleur-de-lis Press) and Against Detachment (Pecan Grove Press).