There’s a cat on the train.
Its human keeps kissing it
through the black cage
draped in a Shrek tea towel.
Its human’s chest looks like
it’s going to burst all over the carriage.
The human asks if the cat can see
the sheep and trees through the window.
The cat says nothing. It doesn’t kiss
the human back but it accepts
the tuna sandwich and purs
when the human tickles its tummy
with their nose.

© Carl Burkitt 2023