Poem for My Cat

When there was cancer

in my neck

you would

come down

to my bedroom

and rest your chin

on mine

while I slept.

You would

curl your body

in the crook

of my shoulder

and I would

be fearful that somehow

you would

catch the cancer

and I think

you knew

and you just wanted

to take it away.

© Julie Bolitho. “Poem for my Cat,” Poem. Third Wednesday. Gravity Presses: Winter 2008/2009, pg. 32