Ode to an old cat ~
once there was an old cat
who had used up all his lives
and at the very last
was found
on the side of the road
in a ditch
waiting
thwarted
by some kind soul
who brought him
to us
the last chance hotel
for cats
too old to be counted
orange and ragged
hard as old bone
cataracts
arthritis
he ran like a
12 year old
after the dogs
to box their ears
followed us
sat at our feet
staring up
waiting
for us
to understand
but we never learned
to speak cat
never knew
the lives he led
the birds he ate
the cars he dodged
the jaws that missed
we never knew
who loved him
what bed
he slept in
what fire
warmed his back
we couldn’t see
where his fear went
what drove him
still
after all these years
to come
and sit
at our feet
and wait
once there was an old cat
who had used up all his lives
and at the very last
was found
on the side of the road
in a ditch
waiting
thwarted
by some kind soul
who brought him
to us
the last chance hotel
for cats
too old to be counted
orange and ragged
hard as old bone
cataracts
arthritis
he ran like a
12 year old
after the dogs
to box their ears
followed us
sat at our feet
staring up
waiting
for us
to understand
but we never learned
to speak cat
never knew
the lives he led
the birds he ate
the cars he dodged
the jaws that missed
we never knew
who loved him
what bed
he slept in
what fire
warmed his back
we couldn’t see
where his fear went
what drove him
still
after all these years
to come
and sit
at our feet
and wait
This is a gorgeous poem. And the photo.
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