SUCH A HANDSOME BOY

I was out walking today
and I saw this cat:
black and white,
such a handsome boy,
that I hadn’t seen
in nearly a year

and I was so happy
when I saw him.
He came over to me,
sniffed my hand,
rubbed his cheek on my ankle.
He seemed happy to see me, too.

I got down on the ground,
sat there with crossed legs
and began to pet him,
gave him a few nice words.
I had left the biting flies
behind me on the path
and the terrifying things
that laid ahead,
that always laid ahead
when I was done walking
for the afternoon
were still waiting for me

but, right then,
the handsome boy
was getting his back rubbed
and happiness closed his eyes
and mine.
I sat there,
stroked his back
with two hands,
told him he was a good puss.

The road ahead relaxed a little,
waiting for me.

John Tustin’s poetry has appeared in many disparate literary journals since 2009. His first poetry collection is forthcoming from Cajun Mutt Press. fritzware.com/johntustinpoetry contains links to his published poetry online.