She died

oh     years ago.

I still dream of her      from time

to time.

She slips into my visions      no rhyme

no portent

and it's

             strange

and it's

            glorious

for you see, I am never aware...

I have... somehow... so stupidly believed... she could be

submerged.

When she     sways in     languorous as trailing kelp

liquescent shoulder blades       slow ---ocean---rolling

slowly padding the oyster-slippery road

making    her    way

making    her    way

to me

I know... I just know... though my eyes are squeezed and sealed ...it's

her.

I turn... gather her in, tender

rub my face in soft obliging fur

smell her powdery, au fait feline odour,

feel the weight of her, the purring warmth of her, and she knows

she knows

just how much I've... missed her

exactly

how much I've missed her

because you see

she has been with me always

and from the very first day... she... unconditionally

loved

and accepted      me.