get up

this morning I awoke

drunk

after spilling my drink

all over the sheets

startling the cats

who slept soundly…

dreary, bleary,

rolling around in bed

rolling in and out

of sleep and the blur

between dreams

noting the cool side

of the pillow, turn right,

turn left, back again,

kicking sheets

squashing pillows

against the wall behind

my head

feeling insignificant

a little horny and blame

it on the booze,

or maybe myself,

the spinning won’t let

me decide

it’s hard to get yourself up

when you’re spinning like this

unsure of ups or sides

even waking in your own bed,

and the cats purr sometimes

when you’re this way

and maybe they want you to know

it’s hard for us to tell you

we don’t think you’re

insignificant

and we hope

that makes you feel better,

even though you’re spinning,

but if you could please

rub right here

behind the whiskers

and ahh i’ll turn my head

this way so you’ll rub

between the ears

and purr we love you

so turn my head again

and promise to purr

just rub my coat down my back

and turn again so you’ll know

we’ll miss you

when you walk behind

the bright door,

but we’ll wait your return

and probably sleep

dreaming of purring

and chasing things

that move fast and furry and bright

and rattle and roll

and fish and we’ll

be right here

so we hope it makes you feel

better when you’re here

it’s not their fault

when I’m this way

and spinning,

though I’ll take all day

getting up

to try and stop the motion,

try to stop the feeling

insignificant, maybe

managing to recall

older moments

of significance,

purpose,

belonging that is more

than just this drunk man

petting cats

who may want to tell him

how much they care,

they love him, they hunger,

and need him

to get up.