Curled on the dining room table
Furry cheek snuggled against the cloth
Trixie purrs
Tail twitching and ears cocked
Waiting for the sound of cat food in the bowl

I rub my face in her tummy
Breathing in rich cat-smell
As she rumbles, happy
To be home
After a trot around the neighborhood

Mrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeew?
She asks if I’ll pet her
I oblige and stoke her back
Telling her I love her
That she’ll always be my kitty

She stretches, mouth open
And legs stiff
Always trying to look less fat
Tail curling, eyes open
Then she settles back down
And tucks her head on her paws

Lying there on the green tablecloth
Looking like a beached whale
She sinks deeper in sleep
Her whiskers droop
And yellow eyes close
And I rub my face in her fur again

She’s still purring
Even in sleep she’s my baby
Paws tucked under her massive body
Cold button nose a bright black
She is my darling
My sweetie
My Trixie-Bixie.