Only okay

Cradling my
fifteen year old
cat in a towel
like a baby

letting her hide
her face
& telling her
it’s going to be
okay

that we’ll
get through it
together

she takes
the medicine
easier now
& afterward
I wipe
the spittle
off her face
&
hold her
just
a moment
longer

so
we both
know
it will be
okay

so
we both
know