Luck and Fortune

Luck and Fortune

After his wife left with the kids,
After he lost his job,
After the relapse and the diagnosis,
He decided he couldn’t have any worse luck.
So he rented a hotel room,
Requesting that it be on the 13th floor.
The concierge told him there was no 13th floor.
The 14th then, he said, knowing it was really the 13th.
After checking in, he went out and bought a ladder
At a hardware store, then stopped by an animal shelter
And picked out two black cats.
Back in his room, he took his shoes off, put them on
The table, wrapped one hand in a pillow case, 
Ducked under the leaning ladder, opened an umbrella, 
Went into the bathroom, and punched the mirror.
Then he lay down on the bed and waited, 
The black cats crossing back and forth
Over his body, meowing and purring.
And it was then that it struck him
That it was the best day he’d had in awhile.
Despite the umbrella, it wasn’t raining.
Despite the ladder, there was nowhere to get to.
There was no mirror to shame him with his reflection.
He realized the cats must be hungry.
He took the elevator down to the breakfast room.
There was no one in there at that hour.
He filled a Nalgene with milk and went back up, 
Watching the coins of the floors fill
With golden light, then lay with his head hanging
Over the foot of the bed, 
Watching the cats, who he’d decided to name
Luck and Fortune, drink.