Soft, speckled nose gone dry with sleep, tonight I wake her up to stroke her fur lined back A growl escapes to my surprise; what fright! Now ears drawn back, prepare for an attack Instead, she escapes, darting through the door. Not to be overlooked are her sweet paws Pattering across the cold, kitchen floor She makes a show of them, extending claws Her tongue catches a taste of droplets left From early morning, in her deep blue bowl. Like me, she finds quiet… sometimes bereft In this house with creaky floors, not quite whole I lean my head against her sunken spine And listen to her heart keep time, like mine