The Ninth Life

I wrote this poem, The Ninth Life, (many) years ago in college. Because it's one of my favorite poems that seems to have enduring meaning, I recently entered it in this year's North Carolina United Tribes Unity Conference writing competition in the poetry category, where it won 2nd place.

The Ninth Life

Nightcreepers,

Catwalking into my dreams

at night.

Slinking thoughts of you

to keep me

in limbo  –

never asleep,

never awake.

Nightcreepers

tiptoe in on black velvet paws,

leaving me dazed

and tumbling

to land on all fours

for the ninth time.

   

        ---Kara Stewart