i remember your first purr.
small creature in from the wild,
slowly learning to trust me.
you had not purred in years,
and you were rusty, motor sputtering,
body half-tensed for flight.
but you let me stroke your chin, slowly,
and you leaned your head into my hand,
where it fit perfectly,
and blinked, slowly, your forgotten purr
rumbling to life.
now you sleep beside my pillow,
and every night, you are purring
before you even leap
onto your spot on my bed.
I stroke your soft chin
and blink back at you
until we both fall asleep.