High in the bamboo

January 13, 2003

The cat likes to sit in the bamboo,
rest its head on its front paws,
and look out at the world.
I like to sit on the porch,
rest my head against the back of my old chair,
and watch the cat look out at the world.
I look up into the bamboo, too,
glance back down at the cat
to see if it has moved.
It hasn't. I try to catch the cat moving.
I don't succeed. I squint to pretend
I am falling asleep. I fall asleep.
When I awake, the cat is gone.
I look back up into the bamboo.
The bamboo tops move.