Love Always Leads to Let Down
My Prospero has changed to jumping up
And settling down in comfort on my lap.
I move my palm and fingers, making cup
Of love around his rump. He moves to nap
The way that cats do, circling with pink paws
And winding down with nose tucked in, in white
And pink, too. He forgets that he has claws.
Instead he starts his downward gliding flight
To furry dreams and then to twitching toes
And eyelids. In his Id he starts the chase
Of mice and birds. His lips beneath that nose
Attempt to grab them all inside his face.
His final flop towards sleeping landed on
My calf. At last he’ll stand and stretch and yawn.
~ Phillip Whidden