Koko’s kitten

by Matthew Moniz

can’t comprehend 

her prestidigitation, projections, flat shadows 

puppeteered, omitting semiosis, stringed 

digits pulling responses. It can’t imitate 

the gesture, the hand that carries, the hand 

that gives, the hand that takes – the wiggling 

symbols, conditioned to touch mind 

to mind, evaporate without confirmation 

of signs or sight or sharing. 

Koko pets her pet, and it learns 

what that means. It meows and cuddles 

and never questions. She sees 

a peered mirror test, small theories 

of sonder. Koko sees what she wants 

to see. She wants to see herself 

meaningful 

and not alone.