Just My Luck

a poem about misfortune, bad luck, and a cat that turns it all around

"Just My Luck"

Weddings, birthdays, joy, it seems,
are made of grief and broken dreams.
My life has been a garbage truck.
Just my luck.

When US soldiers stormed my house,
and took my children and my spouse,
to France I sailed across the sea.
C’est la vie.

In France the wine and cheese are great -
The callous mimes are what I hate.
One wink and in a box I’m stuck.
Just my luck.

I ran to Spain through mountain range,
saw vibrant pueblos (for a change),
and sipped sangria through the night,
La vida es alright.

I tangoed with a man in red,
‘til bulls charged in to dance, instead.
They snapped my ribs with mighty buck.
Just my luck.

I ducked my nose in Egypt’s sand,
the loneliest in all the land,
to keep away from flukes and jinx,
like the Sphinx.

For years I kept my solitude,
just as I planned - still, pain pursued.
Then, like a king, a cat walked in,
with a grin.

Hairless, careless, knight in armor,
he scratched my fence down like a charmer.
My efforts foiled by this schmuck.
Just my luck.

                             - e. rose