St. Anthony of Padua (patron of seekers of lost articles & my mom's favorite)

dear saint anthony,

I think I may have asked you

in drowsiness, in mid-sleep

to help me find a way to save the cat

from crying from beneath my fire escape.

his mouth is pink

and all the blue birds fly out

and he is left empty.

I’d like someone to wear

matching square dance outfits with,

but that’s only if you have

a spare second or two.

I may have also asked

for a cup of near-dead stars,

a tongue that identifies everything

as sweet, and a pair of hands

full of electricity.

I’d like to make some

lightning happen.

I may have misplaced

all these things

a long time ago.

I may have never owned them.