Birds and butterflies
dart
           down
                          canyons
between tall buildings
looking for a place to hide
as the sky above the city darkens
and the rain begins
                      timid at first—unsure
then creeping onto window ledges
and foraging along the sidewalk.

They’re tearing down the building across the street
and the old woman who sat cushion high
behind the flower boxes
                                   is gone.
Even the children who played along the broken side-
    walk
                                   have disappeared
and their hop-scotch lines are washed away.

Only the multi-colored cat
preening in the shop window
is unconcerned
as night begins.