queen of sheba
we are down an a/c unit
with one cat left in this dusty apartment
drinking iced decaf coffee
that puddles from the heat
and makes brown rings on the wine-stained table
it’s too blistering to drink wine
on a night like this
we hit the bedroom an hour early
lay in the cool of the dark room
with the fans blowing their mercy on our flesh
when i think to save
that remaining cat from the heat
go into the living room and pick her up
though she howls and tries to hang on to an old blanket
with the city of pittsburgh stitched into it
turns tail and runs out of the room
the minute i set her down
right back into the stifle
just like a fucking idiot, i say to my wife
then we both talk about you, sweet belle
gone a year now
our little siamese mix of quiet joy
who used to lay on my pillow on hot nights
like the queen of sheba
letting the fans blow and blow their offering
the smartest cat ever created for a sweltering
spring night
missed
so sorely and completely
missed.
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