Superstition Poem by Susan Lacovara

The yellow eyed black cat

Slinks in after midnight

The bewitching hour

For the superstitious

He still questions who I am

I play to his reservation

Knowing soon he'll understand

And come curl up without hesitation

Nothing goes hungry or unloved

On my watch

Not even a yellow eyed black cat

Who crossed under a ladder

While I opened my umbrella indoors

And forgot to throw a pinch of salt

Over my shoulder while cooking tonight

Too close to the open flame

Buying not into the taboos

Long tattooed into collective thought

I cross my fingers, wish on stars

Hoping my luck has changed