The cat watches fireflies in my garden,
Tapping its tail slowly
Furry philosopher,
You can see the ghosts that surround us
And play with their coat tails.
Remnant of the wild,
Your soul bears shadows of the past,
Dark and deathly still.
I trail you to the river
And we gaze at minnows
With glazed eyes and sharpened claws.
Always the hunter,
You fall with grace,
Into my lap,
Rough-tongued,
Whiskered
Staring at my eyeballs
As they move,
Small beads to play with
Purring, a carpet of fluff,
You put your paws up for a moment,
Relaxing bonelessly,
Slackening into a tea towel,
Playfully innocent
Until the nighthawk screams
From the outskirts.
Sliding to the edge
Pupils dilated,
No longer tamed
You dissolve into the night,
Shadowless
Your nine lives calling.