Despite various scientific studies and centuries of sharing our lives with beloved felines, we do not really understand how or why they purr.  Sometimes, they are clearly purring their contentment, feelings of safety or as we imagine, love for their humans.  Felix (my tuxedo with the inoperable growth), often purrs at the vet (where he is clearly stressed), or when he is being injected with his regular fluid treatments at home.  It seems he is purring to self-soothe and softly reassure himself -- I'm okay, I will be okay.  

This is my human purring poem.

Here
gazing out across 
       red tiled rooftops
    deep bells sounding
 somewhere 
    lost in dense morning 
      fog, softly enveloping
  the invisible harbor

Here
    no homeless children  
      begging with their dogs 
 yet their hungry sad eyes
 still silently following
     expecting nothing

Here
   the past suddenly reappears
     armed with its silencing 
         duct tape 

What must be done—

   Fill tub with soothing 
         ancient waters

   Sprinkle with healing
         lavender and echinacea 

   Listen to Secret Garden
         dancing in still spaces

Then—write the words 
       that must be said
 Yes, even here
      you can

  Here, still
      in this dying world
   living through layers 
   filtering the impossible

Reference the past 
    if you must
 But—some stories
    must be abandoned
      and some wounds
    forgiven, not forgotten

Step past the present,
   precariously holding 
   a naked heart
     intact    
        raw     
   hope-ful