my cat dreaming in my pillow
and i know she has nightmares too

i can tell from her breathing
from her short, broken meows

she doesn't let me pet her
and she meows at the empty sky
during ordinary nights

and it reminds me too much
of the queer afflictions
i have seen from so many

screaming at the moon
scratching their faces
their beautiful faces

and in their sleep
nightmares

i can tell from their breathing
from their short, broken words

and i wake them up
and offer them pancakes
or tea

or beer

but some won't let me help them
some stay in their silence
better off ignored to endure till health

like my dear cat
i give her some dinner
and she resumes
to stare
at the dark empty

and i think
if only that emptiness
had some tea and pancakes