We took one of my cats
and the dog to the humane society -
they were becoming
too hard to keep.

My one remaining cat,
bereft of his companions,
wanders forlornly about
the house, calling,
pleading in his feline voice
for some answer that never comes.
There is no one left
who understands him.
And so he sleeps, or sits
gazing out of the screen door
listening to the birds
free upon the air,
restless, dreaming perhaps,
or brooding
in his loneliness.

He makes me think of mankind,
how we, too, after losing those
we deem have become too hard
to keep, wander about lonely
and alone
among friendly strangers,
who could never understand.

He reminds me of me.

05/07/2003

Author's Note: The title comes from a plaque that was made for me a long time ago, bears my name and the inscription that I made the title. I never felt it was completely appropriate, and upon observing my cat, I am sure of it.

Posted on 05/07/2003
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