The Cat Danced

The small, black cat danced –   showed off her white bib!

She danced on her back paws, twirled for her dinner.

I watched with joy from the window

as the little black cat danced on

the day before her death.

Witnesses say my mother danced, too,

days before her death.

Yellow with jaundice, unaware of  limits,

she stood – and – hands on the walker that guided her steps,

she danced!

***

I love to dance.

I too, face the day of my death.

Don’t you?

And, won’t you dance, too?

***

An image I have carried with me for a long time, the little black cat that danced the day before she died.  And I, I was a grateful witness to this small joy!