chicken bones upon grapefruit peels,
bubblewrap dreaming
bursts into a scowl,
the back does ache like weakened knees
as we’re not sure it’s winter.

my brothers are calling,
teasing and asking
where I stood a few nights before
while they just laughed,
busied enough to rekindle the need for upholstery.

I face the color and taste the nothings
of stale air brushing against uneven paint
and I blink, sink into observation
and think some more about how good it feels
to not wear an old frayed collar.

Cat No. 61 of the 500 Cats Project