Striking Up With A Cat Poem by john tiong chunghoo

a cat - stripes yellowish back - walked past me
at the condominium some days ago
as i was waiting for my lift
he practically brought the house down
with his confident and assuring strides
he walked practically like a king - so proudly and
unfearful that it inspired courage -
how i wish i could do the same

brimming with admiration
i could not help calling out 'meow'
to the cat when it was feet away
and astutely came straight and lay herself down
like a pack of cards,
turning its front paws up
to welcome me to the warmth
in its furry paradise

i swam my feet over
the lithe and buoyant frame
as my elevated blood pressure
did not allow me to bend down to it -
how frustrated i was to miss
the good chance to have good time with this
fall-in-love-at-first-sight beloved animal

a woman who walked into
this red letter encounter
between us gave a marvelled look
before making her way to the lift
how affectionate animals can be
though our intelligence can be miles apart
how easily we can bond if
we care to bare our hearts out to each other,
she must have thought
we walked into the lift with the cat
still sprawled on the foor

i have been looking for
the same cat but it has yet
to make its much waited upon
kingly strides that have made
their way with triumph into my heart