When rabbits sleep they are still. No movement but the way their
chests rise and fall like ocean waves.
the happier they are, the closer they look to death. 
They are a bundle of fur, limbs splayed out,
until they look like abstract versions of themselves.
The only movement is that sea-like shaking of their chests.
Rising and falling. Rising and falling. Rise. Fall.

Have you ever fed a rabbit?  
They are awake, alert, upright. 
and then 
running around the cages.
and then 
claws are scrabbling against its floors. 
and then
thrusting their faces out the cage door, 
and then 
wiggling their nose,
and then
pushing their nose and eyes against yoursand then
covering what they can reach in kisses. 

Last night it was hot. I dreamt of the ocean. 
The darkness filtered in through my blinds, 
and my cat was in my arms
her face pressed against mine, 
soft, and warm, and nothing moved but my fan
and our chests
which rise and fall like tides lapping against the shore.
Rising and falling. Rising and falling. Rise. Fall.

This morning, I fed the animals
and then 
refilled their water
and then
replaced the paper towels
and then 
cleaned their litter
and then 
talked to them
and then 
talked to the cats (who were jealous)
and then 
made the bed.
and then made breakfast
and then 
studied
and then
got dressed for work 
and then
emailed my boss
and then 
and then 
and then—! 

Watching the rabbits lie there, flopped over, motionless except for
the rise and fall, rise and fall, rise and fall
of their chests makes me still in fear. 
Why do they look so close to death when they are relaxed? 

They have never seen me sleep,
but if they did would they wonder that about me? 
Would they compare my still body
to the whirl of me in the mornings, 
my rise and fall, rise and fall, rise, fall

to my 
and then
and then
and then?

---

Cecilia Combs is a young poet from South Jersey. She had published her poems in Avant literary magazine, Flower mouth Press, and Ophiucus. She also self published a collection of poems called Tranquil Things! She loves to write about animals and draws a lot of inspiration from her cats and rabbits in particular.