LATE NIGHT MUSINGS

“As a three-time breast cancer survivor, the pandemic kept me away from my kids and friends, as chemo left me with a vulnerable immune system,” shares Nancy Broerse of Niagara-on-the-lake, Ont. “I wrote this poem during one of my sleepless nights.”

COUNTING MY BLESSINGS

It’s four in the morning and the house is serene.

There’s no one about but me at this screen.

I’m sitting here typing and playing a game, and four little cats are sleeping again.

There’s Lily Rose all flu y and purring sublimely.

And Oreo with his ’gator cuddled so kindly.

And Meatball so sweetly hidden under the couch, and Ferdinand is snoring, he’s hardly a grouch!

The ROBO machine is now at its rest, and I sit here alone and know that I’m blessed.

Sipping my tea and reading my verses,

I realize much how I have in my purses.

They’re not full of money but carry so many photos of loved ones and memories and such.

Remnants of ribbon and name tags and more remind me of laughter and love from before.

Peppermints and worn-out pens from wherever,

that bring me back to a lasting forever

of family extended and close to my heart.

And the connection to others no longer a part

of my life for right now, but maybe again,

we’ll congregate anew together, my friend.

Or next time around when I come back to mend,

and once again seek and lessons transcend

the broken parts of me that I need to repair

or experience again till I understand where

new opportunities present me with various choices

till my soul again evolves and rejoices.

But now I am drawn back again from my quiet delusion,

for kittens are purring, back from their seclusion

from under the couch and into the kitchen,

at 4 a.m. they are hungry and begin their loud bitchin’.

Feed us oh lowly one, giver of food,

cause we’re irresistible and now in the mood

to indulge in some reverie and kitty-cat fun,

and ready to amuse ourselves, everyone.

With bleary eyes I obey all four furry masters, and do as I’m told to avoid great disasters.

For I am well-trained and know just what

to do to keep kitties happy and healthy and amused, too.

They’ve taught me what pleases them

and how to behave and to give them the tuna treats that they all crave.

And now that I’ve done my part and all cats are sated,

I’m going to bed now, regardless how stated

that according to cats, sleep is far overrated.