BLACKIE

Blackie,

The little

Ferrell cat

That we feed

Came to visit

This afternoon

Acting like

Our patchy

Spring grass

Was a rich

Emerald lawn.

Today, she seemed

To drop her fear

And played with me.

She, somehow

Survived another winter,

Too fearful to use

The shelter we left

For her

On the back porch.

For her sake

I want summer

To be endless.

She hasn’t changed much –

Maybe there is

Small infinitesimal

Growth,

And I would

Love to

Crush her

Winter’s experience

And allow

Her to make

Her peace

In our place –

But I am

Allergic,

And just

Touching her

Made me

Swallow

A Benedryl.

Today, she was

Uncharacteristically friendly,

Gobbling her food

As I silently

Spoke to her

Telling her

That there’s

No need to

Feel afraid.

I am glad

That we could

Help her

And as we do

We help ourselves,

Feeling like

A night light

For creation.

As she left

The trees

Seemed to point

Everywhere.

She disappeared

In our urban

Neighborhood

Which must seem

Like electric woods,

From her perspective.

Then, I spotted

Her again

Hiding near

A neighbor’s garage.

Above, I noticed

Oblong clouds.

We seemed to

Communicate quietly –

She is more

Than a

Make believe

Friend,

And listens

To a

Poet’s song.