Over the shoulder

It was a nervous look over the shoulder.
The neck arched, soft fur stretched,
the spine curved like a goldfish
ready to get away. It was a nervous look

over the shoulder into the shadows
to a noise punching against tiled walls.
Claws dug into fallen dust, whiskers twitched,
damp nostrils searched for answers. It was

a nervous look over the shoulder. Soft paws
stiffened against gaps in wooden floorboards,
ears pointed up, the tail curled back home.
It was a nervous look over the shoulder,

the kind learned over eight lifetimes.