Outside the convenience store in early evening,
I stare at the large man wobbling towards me
on a rusty bike he manages with one hand
while the other cups something against his breast.

He stutters hello ma'am,
asks if I'll hold the kitten he found
under a parked car two blocks away.
His big hands shake as he gives her to me.

I'm speechless for the slender purr,
the lost star on one silky foot.

He comes out of the store with cat food, milk,
a slow man with a hesitant smile,
thumbnails bigger than her paws.

After he's pocketed her and nosed his bike into traffic
(plastic bag swinging from handle bars),
my eyes follow them
until there's only taillights and dusk.

"Sheridan and Pratt," by Francine Marie Tolf, from her chapbook Like Saul (Plan B Press '08)

This touching poem seems a perfect compliment to yesterday's post on The Shelter Pet Project.  Many thanks to Francine for allowing us to share it (copyright), along with her previously posted poem "her heaven" from the same chapbook.  Image copyright Cate Frost and 123rf.com.