kittens

Couldn’t help but weep
As I watched her give birth.
She made soft, stirring sounds,
And suddenly, the kittens
Bloomed into the world.
One by one, she washed them clean,
Then they nestled close to drink
While she purred a lullaby.

My tears
Also
Began to bloom.

Overwhelmed by that
Ancient, sacred ritual,
Revealing
A simple truth:
We must care
For one another.

We, cosmic travelers,
Fragments of the stars;
We must nurture each other
In every way we can.

Our power carries
The responsibility
To protect and to love.