a walk in your weather

You watched me
feeding the sparrows.
I watched
your eyes
smile into a moon crescent.
You watched me
watching.

And I watch you
walk out
into the loud,
busy street.

I’m the stray that follows
you home from the pub,
pushing up under your claws.
You grip
as you stride
and you pet
my weathered fur.
I keep close
on your heel,
dodging kicks to my face.
The sun is hopping
on hot little feet,
right
to left,
to right
behind silver lined clouds,
trying to squeeze through
for a moment
to kiss your cheek,
but you’re racing
out of her shine
and I glance up
through sparkling eyes.
My coat
shivers in her warmth
and I think
I can stop
and just smile
at her
for a while.
I think
I can cry
pressed against that wall
in her shade.
I can jump
in this puddle of rain.
I can float
in this wind through the day.

You watch me
stretch under the tree
I watch
your eyes drift
to a grey horizon.

I tuck
frozen hands
into pockets
and scrunch receipts
into tiny balls.
They fall
like paper snow flakes
and leave a trail
for you,
should you turn around,
missing my pitter-patter toes
and my pink tongue
at your fingertips,
my love.