Lilly in the morning

i set

the saucer of milk on the stoop

for Lilly,

the black cat

from the nearby

neighborhood.

no collar,

no tags,

just her long shaggy self

strolling

the street

and cul de sac.

she sees me and comes

over to say hello.

slithering

her

matted body

between my

calves.

we're not in love,

exactly,

but have a fondness for

one another

that goes

years back.

both being strays of sort.

she takes

one lick from the bowl,

then is on her

way again.

sometimes

if she's in the mood,

she'll even look back.