Smiling Alone

 

Sleeping Cat

—Painting by Kawanabe Kyōsai (1831-1889)

THE CATS WILL KNOW
—Cesare Pavese (1908-1950)

Again the rain will fall


on the sweet pavements,


a light rain
like a breath or a footstep.


Again the breeze and the dawn


will blossom lightly


beneath your footstep


as you reenter.


Among flowers and sills


the cats will know it.



There will be other days.


There will be other voices.


You will smile alone.


The cats will know it.


You will hear antique words,


tired and empty words


like the disused costumes


from yesterday's festivals.



You too will make gestures.


You will respond with words—


face of Spring,


you too will make gestures.



The cats will know it,


face of Spring;


and the light rain,

the hyacinth-color dawn,


that tears the heart of one


who no longer longs for you,


they are the sad smile


you smile alone.


There will be other days,


other voices and awakenings.


We will suffer at dawn,


face of Spring.

_____________________

—Medusa, noting that more cat poems may be found at www.poemhunter.com/poems/cat