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.