How to Herd Cats

First, learn the terrain
from earth to rooftop ridge:
every burrow, every branch,
every furrow the rain runs.

Second, learn the lesser lives:
the generations of rabbits,
the gyrations of starlings
gathered in murmurations.

Third, master wind and air:
stir fog from morning dew,
muster an army of clouds
to march in autumn storm.

Four, harness these tools.
Steer cats by wafted drafts
that speak of mouse, or mole,
or the secrets of sparrows.

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Mary Soon Lee was born and raised in London, but has lived in Pittsburgh for thirty years. She is a Grand Master of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association, and three-time winner of both the AnLab Readers' Award and the Rhysling Award. Her latest poetry book, "How to Navigate Our Universe," answers vexing questions such as "How to Surprise Saturn" and "How to Survive a Black Hole." She hides her online presence with a cryptically named website (marysoonlee.com and an equally cryptic Twitter account (@MarySoonLee).