A cousin called to report

she had fallen

now bedridden

and in pain

 

she fell and

broke her back

in her living room

stumbling in the dark

over her cat

 

the cat survived

as cats always do

the cousin did not

ending up in the hospital

 

yet such cheerfulness

was in her voice

it made me feel ashamed

 

that I had ever complained

about my little pains

and aches

 

I may get a cat now

to remind me of

the shortness of life

and how fragile it can be

 

cats get 9 chances

we only get one.