It's Still Life

For VV’s Vol. 09 Chapter 01

The Knock 

They've learned there's value 
in silence, preserving their words 
for their own ears. 

A mother. Her girl. 
Standing in a quiet that 
possesses the room, except  

for the snap of flames 
that live in the logs. A branch 
that settles, and sparks, and  

shifts in the iron grate.
Firelight deepens the inexact 
shadows as sleep teases 

a ginger cat. Its tail 
replies to tiny bombs of sap. 
And then, the moment is 

stolen by a hard knock 
on the door. Once, and again 
... and again. 

The cat gathers itself 
closer to the woman and girl. 
Even a cat knows that 
there's safety in numbers.