cat love

sometimes, when
she hasn't called for
a few days
you think
your cat no longer loves you.
that she uses you
for food and shelter. she's
no longer interested
in the soft grey mouse
on a string
wriggled from a stick.
no longer caring
about the ball
that rolls across the floor.
never curling
in your lap when you come
home from work. she just
sits on the sill,
curled in the sun,
waiting to hear your
hand in a drawer,
a can cut open.
but the ringing phone
changes everything.