A black cat stares me down

Collar jingling, he scratches

Big yellow eyes eat me alive

I do not know what luck he brings—

I do not know that he brings luck at all

I was never one to believe

The superstitions of old men

Afraid of the unknown

But the black cats watching my misfortunes unfold

And the broken makeup mirror

Reflecting gaunt gray eyes—

They’re starting to make me think

That I should believe otherwise