Things Worth Not Pursuing

Things worth not pursuing include
sleep, inspiration, perfection, and faith--
oh, and dogs and cats.

All these things we want are fugitive
like names, like thoughts, like memories--
like Bo Peep's sheep
they come back home
only when we let them stray.

What else do these things have in common?
Are they all children of our other mind?
(You know the one I mean,
the one that doesn't know about what time it is,
or when you have to get there.
So useless in our waking lives,
so crucial to our dreams.)

Of course, dogs and cats aren't children of
either of our minds,
but fairly clearly they possess
just the one that counts in this discussion.
Perhaps we should ask their opinion.
Maybe they can let us know the secret,
how to chase without pursuing
so that when we let them be,
these things that flee when sought
may come and nose our arms--
moist assurance of devotion--
or place one paw,
so delicately,
a touch at which our hearts leap up,
just briefly on our shoulders.

March 20 2009