my cat walks diagonally
across a blank sheet
of standard paper
letter size, bright white
pristine and perfect
her paws, lightly soiled
by a basement adventure
leave a spotty trail
and i move
reckless with intent
to snatch up the page
so recently spotless
(notwithstanding
the box on the shelf
containing roughly
one thousand two hundred
exactly like it)
my kitty jumps
i spooked her
she casts me a glance
part hurt
part reproach
as she departs
and shakes the dust
from her feet
carefully now
i examine the paper
and the dusty gray footpath
bisecting its whiteness
i notice
the shape of each print
simple and flawless
the organic precision
of their placement
too late
i see these blemishes
as they are:
pristine
and perfect
and i move
brimming with intent
to be kind to my cat