Beyond the borders of my body lie 
a floor in need of sweeping, 
a piano that needs playing, 
a spider that I saw while making tea, 
birds that want feeding, though 
the last creature seen there was 
a long-fingered raccoon, scooping 
handfuls of seed into its joyful jaws; 
a lawn that needs mowing, 
a wound in need of healing, 
tears that need comforting, 
bombs that won’t stop falling, though 
the call to prayer echoes over rubble; 
oceans that won’t stop rising. Oblivious, 
the cat lies warm across my legs, 
as though love were all that were needed.