the idea of cats

you love cats

a feral cat appears outside your home

wild
ferocious
beautiful
scars from whisker to tail

you love cats

you put out food
water
cover from the rain
cream
on special days

you love cats

you want to pet
long luxurious fur
you want to stroke
head down bounding spine
you want to squeeze
supple soft warm body

you love cats

you pet the cat
you bleed
you stroke the cat
you bleed
you squeeze the cat
you bleed

the cat does not come back

the cat does not come back

the cat does not come back

the cat comes back

you love cats

¿ ?

—seven may twothousandtwentyfive