on a raft of notes
floats a thin clear melody
across a human divide.

the dogs across the street are out;
they wag their tails.
a cat presses against the calf of my leg.

we give the dog a pat
or a mouse a cookie -
we give a gumdrop to a daughter.

what cannot be spoken
where words fail
words are not needed.

there is a nod,
or a shared stillness -
a stroke of paint against paper.