Visitors on the Couch

Two cats cram one narrow lap.
Three lives, each containing more—
Three, all cells counted as one—

Plus their microbiota,
Hardly enumerable.
The cats are cleaning themselves.

Their microbiota help.
Some microbiota hurt.
The cats have just had cat food,

Recycling more prior lives.
One cat’s been sneezing a lot.
A virus? Is that a life?

You see we have two problems
At a minimum—counting;
Defining what counts as life.

But you go ahead. Tell us
About your less-than-ideal
Childhood, family, country.

We’ll listen as we ponder
Three or more body problems,
We who may not share a life.