-touch of life-

the morning after New Year’s Day

I awakened to the same cat leaping upon the bed

approaching my head nudging my head with its head

as if to wake the dead like the elephants do.

It's the new year's realization that
as of now I’m still among the living.

but the minimum monthly payments

aren't due for another week, although they tell me

I owe more this month than I owed last month,

so it seems the new year, same as last year,

regardless of the cat's insistence and the diligence

of the elephants,–– doesn't allow for a grace period.