The Cat

The Cat The cat enters the household soon or late Warmth, food and comfort is our homing bait She often brings a furtive trophy back A dead-weight heavy mouse dragged like a pack She'll treat the kitchen like a climbing gym She'll lick the frying pan, or she'll break into Anything her flexing claws can tear She'll rip the wallpaper beneath the stair But in our hearts this feline has full reign We grudge her nothing, rip, or spill or stain We stroke her velvet ears, her sides, her throat She purrs and ripples, like a pleasure boat