# The Empty Box

> A poem for Jak the cat.

the empty box i built for you,<br>
i saved 12 hours’ worth of wages<br>
to watch you drift to sleep,<br>
and each night, you made sure it wasn’t wasted.

such a nice box. if i could<br>
afford another 28 hours,<br>
i’d build you one of black cherry wood,<br>
and carve its sides with flowers.

it doesn’t matter if you scratch it<br>
or drool on it after a good night’s sleep.<br>
the point is you’d lie back<br>
and kick the air with your feet.

now the empty box rests in the corner,<br>
without a single patch of fur.<br>
those 12 hours weren’t wasted,<br>
i wish i’d spent 28 more.