I lean down to the sink to rinse my mouth
And he jumps onto the counter, crouching,
Slinking to the spot between my shoulderblades.
He purrs, both trapping and liberating me-
Hunched.

He is unpredictable to everyone else.
They expect that once they’ve met one
They’ve met them all, and they are
Made to be chased by dogs, and they are
Replacable,

But they will never ask their friends to
Get new parents when they pass.
Nobody ever told me they hoped I’d get
“Fitted” for a new best friend.