Wasted water

The cat had never seen
So much water in a bath.
Sheltered eyes.
Sedentary life.

Her glance, it flickered,
Mirroring the ripples
In which she saw reflected;
My attempted flight.

In those few seconds
Flashed watery despair.
Cats hate water.
She saw it racing up my nose

And wrap around my brain.
Gripping tightly,
Like choking cellophane.
She saw eyelashes flutter

As the pain
Became surreal.
She heard the muted struggle,
The water, going for the kill

. . .

I watched it like the sea
Cower and retreat down the plug hole
In ways that I didn't understand.
I felt guilty
For wasting it.

I saw the cat upon the stair
Who's green eyes greeted me
With a cold and disappointed look.
It's like she knew what I had tried to do.