black and white cats
have an affinity for me

     my own cat, age three
sits in my room waiting

     he looks out the window
eyes open in receipt of me

     i sit on another person’s bed
curled up with white and black

     sleeping beside my pillow
his eyes stained by allergies

     and they love this human
and i love them just as well

     and they all seem to have a goal
a sacred scheme to protect me