the curse

the thought of the cat left behind makes the air ache.
i shudder at the idea of the heaviness of his heart,
it anchors me, a balloon in still water

a boat floats in the distance-- a cold wave from the man steering
almost drowns me, i cough salt into my fist
and throw it over my shoulder

caught in the wind--
at home glass breaks by black paws,
a pause, a deep breath, and a tear shed as memory