A Poem: When I Look at The Cat

When I look at the cat
She looks back
I think aloud — hi kitty
She must be thinking
Where is my food?

Never mind
The failure of dialogue
The unannounced affection
As unfathomable as the weather
We were not meant to talk
Taking turns
Like humans do

When I look at the cat
She looks back at me
We look at each other
Aware of the looking
there and then

(2024.12.19)