After the morning rain
the air's washed clean
and now it seems the town
indeed the whole valley
has drifted off
into some quiet lake
or else gone underground
only from time to time
the whisper of tires passing
on the still damp road
intrude for just a moment
on a silence
otherwise complete
and in the wake
of today's luncheon
with a lively company
I find myself content to be
at last alone
that is supposing we
exclude the dogs
stretched out asleep
on doggy beds
and our wise cat
who's sitting here
within arm's reach
his eyes half closed
absorbed in feline
meditation and it seems
more perfectly himself than I
have ever been
except when sleeping
making love
or singing