Purrs Versus Snoring

After complaining about my husband’s snoring keeping me up at night, and stating that my cat’s purrs totally calm my nerves, a friend of mine wrote this poem. She wants to remain anonymous because she doesn’t want to create a rift with her husband, whom she loves dearly.

Nightly Duet

At night

When all is still

Except for crickets

And a gentle breeze

There are two other sounds I hear

One that gives me a chill

And one that sets my mind at ease

Both are almost cousins, so to speak, or friends

Yet the emotions they evoke are at opposite ends.

One sound is that of a purring cat

Deep and rhythmic, the very definition of contentment

A lullaby to cuddle to

The other is my husband snoring

Loud, raspy

A noise to set my nerves askew

So there I lie

Cat on my stomach

Husband at my side

Engaged in a rumbling duet

Leaving me to wonder why it’s so easy to abide

One sound and not the other

When one is my wedded spouse

The other just a pet?