for my cat Mario, on his 16th birthday
Time passes all of us
no living thing spared
but choosing to count and add length
can lead to more despair
why not act like the cat
that neither knows of nor remembers
a birthing day
but instead chooses to wake and fulfill its needs
enjoying stretches, sleeps, and food when they can
deciding to cuddle, purr, and nestle near its chosen family
in what appears like another chance to embrace
and find contentment in daily rituals and pace
humans count the years with sadness or regret
wishing for a past or version of themselves
that can no longer draw breath
waste not your time like this
instead approach the day, and farewell the night
with nothing but thanks
because you were here on Earth
for another short spell
the sagacious bee 