With Opened Eyes

I stepped onto my beaten porch,
the grass still wet with dew,
the sun unwilling to shine past
 the clouds, the view was nothing new.
In the cold Spring morning I walked,
anxious to perform my routine
and was stopped by a mangy cat
with eyes a dull, burnt-out green,
without a word, without a cry,
the animal shuffled ‘round my feet,
looking upon me with those dim eyes,
full of hope for anything but defeat,
and, as I had done every day,
I drove the cat to flee,
“Go away,” I always said,
my words a begging plea.
While walking to my car
followed by my younger sister,
she looked over at me,
her words but a whisper,
“Let’s go somewhere new,
school can always wait.”
I drew a breath,
ready to shatter her bait,
and looked at her green eyes,
full of joy and passion.
At once I knew, that one hour
was far less than I could ration.