Kili will take your face off for arugula—
or at least your fingers—her people
warned when I offered, in their absence,
to drop by in between meals to offer
her favorite leafy green treat.

This small black-and-white kitty
with the pooched-out bottom lip
as if she’s in a perennial pout
was actually quite polite
as I presented part of a leaf,

delicately nibbling what
to her is clearly a delicacy.
“I’m not a fan,” I told her,
“so don’t worry that
I’ll steal it from you.”

And Kili watched calmly
until my hands emptied,
then sat on the floor near me,
sniffing my shoes, not
seeming to mind my
un-arugula’d self.

Which is how I knew
that I’d made a new BFF—
best feline friend—
a situation that gives both
of us girls the happies.

•••

(for Kilihuna and her people, Laura Martin and Chris Musci,
in memory of their beloved Hapa kitty)