Silence (to Shayla)
A surprise break between clients
has my mind reeling
How best to spend
this gift of time?
Spring-clean my office space?
Fine-comb my finances?
Sprint to the store?
But my feline friend beckons
from the sun-drenched couch,
poster cat for the art of farniente,
fur fluffed from hours of self-grooming
I stretch out behind her
and bury my face in her warm mane.
Our paws intertwine.
We bask in a rare moment of silence
No barking dogs
no swirling ambulances
no roaring leaf blowers
no hooting trains
no intimate conversations
from the neighbors’ yards.
No thoughts
buzzing through my head.
Just a soft purring
and a flutter of heartbeat.