One Cat’s Dream

is to lean into

the lion

in the mirror

and not trust

the sun again

he watches the world

wide-eyed

from inside

the rescue center where

he avoids teens

with plastic

bags and duct tape

cleans the angry sores paws

the king-sized cage

hisses god’s name

then curls in a ball

for days

he hides under

a thirdhand Mexican blanket

but rises on

unsteady legs

to chow down

on grilled steak

at last

he licks the chubby hands

his love

at last

like water escaping

purring

he leans into

the lion

in the mirror

and begins to trust

the sun again