Cat

by Marie Sheppard Williams

There was

a moment when

I could have caught him.

Albert sneaks out.

Three times now.

This last time

corner of my eye

a yellow slash

slinking down the front

steps. I reached out

to grab him, as I

have before. Always

a huge screaming

and squawking when

nabbed. This time

I held my hand

back.

Suddenly

I understood

wanting freedom

that much. I

let him run.

He

came back in time

for lunch, of course.

I mean, freedom is

one thing and lunch

is another.