Essentially a house and backyard cat
she cries to go out
frequently on any given day
and yet when I open the door
the rising level of snow
bitter cold rushing in
deters her from venturing any further

Our seventh Winter together
I wonder if by now
she’s figured out the cycle of seasons
in her feline mind
as each year in the Fall
the days grow steadily shorter
and temperature drops
I can tell by her body language
she knows it’s a losing battle

Feeling sorry for her predicament
I try to keep her entertained
with cat treats and nip, string/ball toy
even her Cat’s Meow
all too quickly loses its luster
while again and again
I open the back door
so she can take a peek
hoping Spring has finally arrived

Often when I’m upstairs
working away on my computer
she jumps up on the dresser by the window
to surveil what’s going on outside
despite the cold
I pull it open just a touch
where she’ll sit
for as long as she can stand it
watching forlorn
the squirrels she chases in Summer
seemingly immune
to the brisk variance in temperature

Poor kitty
for now no grasshoppers to pounce upon
mice and sparrows
to bring home to me as gifts
and as it’s only December
as in previous years
it will take a cat’s patience
to see her through to the other side





Poem and photo of Eartha © 2014

1,180 hits as of November 2025

12/13/2014

Posted on 12/13/2014
Copyright © 2025 Chris Sorrenti