She watched her youngest child
totter off to the first day of school
between two older brothers,
they took care of him
The lady watched them go
with her empty arms
wrapped around herself,
When the boys had turned the corner,
her eyes watched that distance they had filled
She lowered herself to the step.
The cat lifted herself gradually
from the space next to the porch.
She moved toward the woman
until she was at her feet,
watching her loneliness.
Then she moved to her
forcing her arms
to peel away from herself
and circle the cat.
They bonded
she cried
her fingers played at a snag in the soft fur.
But the message was clear
in the upturned, unblinking
wise face of the cat
That no nest would ever be empty.
In the shadows I watched, Love healing.. a broken heart
