By Ashley Ellen Evelyn Edmonson Goetz
Miele.
Firenze.
I call your name into the dark.
You do not come.
I will leave the door cracked for you.
Please come home.
My heart wants to stop crying today.
It wants to live just a little bit less.
But give a little bit more.
The door is wide open now.
I have spread Feline Greenies on your faux-fur blanket.
I made them a poem.
For you to play with.
You have to dig just a little bit more to find the truth of your heart.
I stare.
Eyes locked at the door.
Pops.
Cracks.
Waiting for a lion.
Will you come home my dear?
Will you come sleep with me now?
It’s getting cold in here.
And I have the heater on medium.
I could turn on the heat but I don’t want to waste the energy.
Footsteps.
I hear.
Is that you my dear?
My girl?
Have you come home?
No?
Well, be ok.
Be more than ok.
Hide in a pretty bush with a warm squirrel family to make you tea.
Bake your bread.
Spread you hummus.
Drink their wine though.
They will offer it as a gift I’m sure.
Or are you back now?
I don’t mind honey.
You can go and play in the dark.
Your eyes can see.
You are, for the fact of the matter, a chat in a hat.
Un gatto dans un chapeau.