By Michelle Rivera
What?
What are you thinking?
As you gaze for hours
out the kitchen window
How?
How do you feel?
Are you full of regret?
Wondering what may have been?
You stare for hours and hours
and my heart is heavy with shame
and I wonder if you feel it too?
You watch the birds
the lizards, you stare at the tall green grass
and once
you saw an orange cat
he looked just like you!
and your eyes grew big and round with alarm
or was it curiousity?
hope? envy?
I gently scooped you in two cupped hands
off a mean city street
and planted you firmly
in my heart
in my home
my home
safe
warm in winter
cool in summer
always dry with soft places on which to sleep -- like me
and breakfast every morning at seven o'clock sharp.
You are the king of my jungle
the love of my life
and I will always
keep you safe and healthy and warm
and all you have to surrender
in return
......is your freedom
Why?
why do I feel like I should say
I'm so sorry
and hope you understand.
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