Revenge

Squirrels dream of a cougar,
a cougar given permission
to crouch like an assassin
awaiting its prey, its target;
a cougar concealed
in the squirrel tree.

Squirrels scowl, chitter
at the woman who once fed
them corn and bread
until she met him,
him who paces beside her,
his arm around her shoulder,
her arm around his waist.
A couple made to sicken squirrels
until midnight revenge twitches
dreams as the cougar leaps…

Today the woman walks alone
noticing squirrels spiralling the tree
as if rejoicing in the sun’s rising,
wondering if she has an ear of corn.

Diane Webster‘s work has appeared in North Dakota Quarterly, New English Review, Studio One and other literary magazines. She had micro-chaps published by Origami Poetry Press in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. Diane was a featured writer in Macrame Literary Journal and WestWard Quarterly. Her website is: www.dianewebster.com