letting in stray cats

i haven't seen

the old

cat

that used to prowl the neighborhood

in weeks.

green eyed

and black haired.

it used to come

up to the porch and rub

itself between

my legs.

she'd purr and say things

i tried to understand.

sometimes she'd lick

the saucer

of milk i'd set out and other

times

she'd come into

the house and wander about,

lying in a puddle

of sun for a few

minutes,

then leave.

cats, like girlfriends,

are like that, i believe.