soft whisker kisses
and delicate snuffling
on my nose, eyes, lips
with faint, most intimate
purring

vigorous edge and corner
rubbing on bedside table
and pile of books that slithers
to the floor with muted
thudding

deliberate stroll along headboard
to select, with care, which items
will be batted onto my head
and which will be sent
flying

soft thump as the bed is abandoned:
final stage has been triggered

silence long enough for me to drift
back to sleep, then unnaturally loud
sounds of moist mastication
and plastic, followed by
retching

objective achieved
I am up