diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 3f065e3..bd7c683 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 __pycache__/
 *.pyc
 .mainline_venv/
+.mainline_cache_*.json
diff --git a/mainline.py b/mainline.py
index 725bad8..d7f6456 100755
--- a/mainline.py
+++ b/mainline.py
@@ -460,6 +460,35 @@ def fetch_poetry():
     return items, linked, failed
 
 
+# ─── CACHE ────────────────────────────────────────────────
+_CACHE_DIR = pathlib.Path(__file__).resolve().parent
+
+
+def _cache_path():
+    return _CACHE_DIR / f".mainline_cache_{MODE}.json"
+
+
+def _load_cache():
+    """Load cached items from disk if available."""
+    p = _cache_path()
+    if not p.exists():
+        return None
+    try:
+        data = json.loads(p.read_text())
+        items = [tuple(i) for i in data["items"]]
+        return items if items else None
+    except Exception:
+        return None
+
+
+def _save_cache(items):
+    """Save fetched items to disk for fast subsequent runs."""
+    try:
+        _cache_path().write_text(json.dumps({"items": items}))
+    except Exception:
+        pass
+
+
 # ─── STREAM ───────────────────────────────────────────────
 _SCROLL_DUR = 3.75  # seconds per headline
 FIREHOSE_H = 12     # firehose zone height (terminal rows)
@@ -868,7 +897,11 @@ def main():
     print()
     time.sleep(0.4)
 
-    if MODE == 'poetry':
+    cached = _load_cache() if '--refresh' not in sys.argv else None
+    if cached:
+        items = cached
+        boot_ln("Cache", f"LOADED [{len(items)} SIGNALS]", True)
+    elif MODE == 'poetry':
         slow_print("  > INITIALIZING LITERARY CORPUS...\n")
         time.sleep(0.2)
         print()
@@ -876,6 +909,7 @@ def main():
         print()
         print(f"  {G_DIM}>{RST} {G_MID}{linked} TEXTS LOADED{RST} {W_GHOST}· {failed} DARK{RST}")
         print(f"  {G_DIM}>{RST} {G_MID}{len(items)} STANZAS ACQUIRED{RST}")
+        _save_cache(items)
     else:
         slow_print("  > INITIALIZING FEED ARRAY...\n")
         time.sleep(0.2)
@@ -884,6 +918,7 @@ def main():
         print()
         print(f"  {G_DIM}>{RST} {G_MID}{linked} SOURCES LINKED{RST} {W_GHOST}· {failed} DARK{RST}")
         print(f"  {G_DIM}>{RST} {G_MID}{len(items)} SIGNALS ACQUIRED{RST}")
+        _save_cache(items)
 
     if not items:
         print(f"\n  {W_DIM}> NO SIGNAL — check network{RST}")