You said to me, “Stay” in the sleepy dawn,

Already Gone

You said to me, “Stay” in the sleepy dawn,
lay in the crook of my arm as in
your kitten-hood. “Stay, and we will lie warm
in bed. Instead of flying off this once,
please stay. I will give you kitty kisses,
and you will burry your nose in my sweet-
smelling fur. Stay. The day is blue and we
will play in the garden. You will trim the lantana,
and I will nibble the lemon grass.” But
I rushed off to a class that was canceled. And
the blue day ran away like tears. I found
you by the window. When I screamed, your brother
hid. He knew. As the sun set, I cried to
you, “Stay. Oh, please don’t go.”
But you were already gone.