Last night I walked through the dimly lit street,
earbuds buzzing a humming Bob Dylan
and a strumming Johnny Cash at a low
volume, and a tabby cat sat calm, still,
on the sidewalk's edge. A determined look
of waiting for something haunting his face.
I thought about inviting him over to
the Chinese restaurant for bad lo-mein,
but then I remembered that discrimination
against felines is well and alive, the poor thing
wouldn't be allowed into the establishment so
that plan was a bust, not mentioning the fact that
I don't speak whiskers and any talking effort
offering a summons was hopeless too.
The song switched and I bought orange chicken instead,
trying hard to eat without thinking about the cat
I'd been forced to leave behind. Forgive me,
Father, the food was delicious. Amen.