In the morning

just before dawn

it is still dark and

still in pajamas

he makes a run for the paper

lying there on the driveway

like a dead bird that fell to earth

he hurries to pick it up

before a car comes

to catch him in its headlights

quickly back toward the front door

before anyone sees him

the next door cat does

he's been watching the whole time

from behind the bush next to the house

he thinks to himself

people are crazy to be up at this hour

this is the time meant for cats

people should not intrude

the cat tiptoes away

disgusted

people make such fools of themselves

they don't have much sense

don't they know

the night belongs to cats.