Cat and dog had hissed and barked,
stalked and chased themselves to exhaustion
now they crouched, panting,
on neutral territory,
a wary, watchful distance apart
The cat was the first to speak,
all nonchalance,
licking its paw
“the best thing” cat growled
“is night-time quiet, the dark-world waiting,
I hear and see everything,
from where it is I, all alone"
Dog sniffed this in,
wriggled and shook itself
“the best thing” it chewed
“is day- time noise and a gut-filled snooze
I hear and smell everyone,
where we are, at home, together"
For a moment, cat and dog looked into each others eyes
a flash of understanding passed between them,
then lunge went the dog,
and puff-ball scratch went the cat
and at it, they went,
again
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