cat

The cat does this thing with his feet
where he presses them one at a time against my flesh
biting down on the rug
which just happens to be across my chest
It is a gesture to conjure milk
from a mother
a sucking and a pawing
which he does indiscriminately
against my knee
or my stomach
but in this case my breast

I am reminded of children I have never lifted
to suck
I am unmoved
I have no desire to mother him
this cat
or any human child
but it is there between us
this pawing, this biting down
and I rest my hand on his head gently
and let him paw me
till he is done.