Kali

To you who came into my life without knocking,

who keep opening new doors in my heart every night and morning.

I like to joke that you’re not really a cat. That one day a young woman

will show up on my doorstep asking for her long lost sister.

She disappeared on that same street 6 years ago

and I will watch you shapeshift in my patio.

Back into your human form.

When I told my friend this story she asked: “But what would happen then?”

And I know exactly what would happen. We’d stay housemates,

you’d still enjoy hanging out in the guest room except this time

your name would be on the door.

And I’d keep loving you the way I always have

for a friend is not a body but a soul.