Let's Cuddle

‘Let’s cuddle,’ I say to our cat

or she says to me

or both to each other.

(We are using body language.)

Anyway, we snuggle.

She settles against me

in her usual spot on the bed, 

squeezed in between us  —

only you are not there

on the other side tonight.

She purrs hard and long

as if you were.

But we’re both restless.

We shift many times in the night,

as if that could make a difference.

We open our eyes briefly

to stare at each other

almost accusingly,

avoiding the huge absence

over your side of the bed.

In the end there is only one way.

‘Let’s cuddle,’ we say to each other,

snuggling as close as we can

and the night slowly passes.

April PAD Challenge #20: Let’s ...