Author's note: This blip stems from a tradition of grilled cheese and tomato basil soup on cold and rainy days at home. And yes, my cat does do this-he's a little odd (but he was also an orphan, so let's forgive him, shall we?)

Tomato Basil Blue

it rains, outside

the sparrows shiver, shake, shed

weary, worn, wet feathers

like burdened leaves

that fall kerplunk

to the laden

grass green grass

that bends to kiss the

cake batter mud of

sludge and mung.

inside, the cat

licks, cleans, eats, kneads and sucks

the pink blanket and watches

asking Shouldn't you, too?

Hiss, sizzle, pop—cat laughs at

flying butter, melting cheese and

mushed tomatoes running together

with basil swimming

blue like the weather

like the clouds

the rain, the cold

the wrens and leaves

the grass, the mud.