there are ways to

see the world

where you do not

come near me

and I do not hug you

when you ask me to

preparation of

the hand to

be in your hand

and when I stare

I realize

when I get home

there is no other animal there

no female lamp to curl up on

no bit of fuzzy sigh

to call to

I will just have to

crawl up on my own blanket

put my head down

abd nuzzle up under a warm

and purr at myself

until you come home

because I can’t

stand life

without you