They gather after midnight

just beyond the fence line

my tongue clicking as loud as can be

is the signal

They try to be patient

but are hungry and they squabble

momentarily as I divvy dry food

and canned onto paper dish and

heart-shaped leaves picked for the occasion

I spread what banquet there is before them

In the dark I hear the crunching noises

the small grunts of satisfaction

the quiet scraping of paper plate against pavement

I do what I can for my friends

I lean my bare arms against the gate

white painted metal cool to skin

surrender some of my weight to it

and take in the dark sky

This is all I need

this ritual this mystery

this communion

To someone we are unwanted

unimportant

we are cats

refugees all