Warfare

The dog and the cat

are having a standoff

in front of the wood stove.

The cat sits on the brick hearth.

The dog lays on her pillow

in front of the hearth.

        They stare

but not quite at each other.

So long as no one moves

there is peace. But should

the dog stretch a paw

or turn somehow

even slightly

toward the hearth

        the cat will attack.

Why, I wonder.

The dog can no more

occupy the hearth

than a lion can fit

through a mouse hole.

The cat cannot occupy

both the hearth and

the pillow at the same time

(and frankly, the hearth

is the cozier spot).

This peace is temporary

unless I intervene,

shift the pillow or

ferry the cat over to

her blanket nest

across the room.

While I know well that

people can be animals,

I’m often surprised when

animals lose their good sense

and act out like people.