spilled milk

as the milk
went over
and it poured
out onto
the table,
soaking the
paper, the
book, the set
of keys,
onto the floor
it trickled,
and streamed
towards the rug
and wherever
else gravity
would let it
go. i went out
and found
three cats
sitting on the
stoop, patiently
licking their
paws, they
seemed to know
that they
were needed
and so i let them
in to help me.
labella, cat
and theresa.
and i won't soon
forget that
what they have
done to soothe
my soul.