Your Ex-Neighbours'-Cat Poem by Russel Tanner

your ex-neighbour’s-cat
was once your neighbour’s-cat
staring haughtily at all the strays
she wouldn’t even eat
in their presence

until

your neighbour left
correction: not just, left
but, left her behind
nuisance, they called her
as they drove away

so

she wandered the streets
dropping her pride
asking even the most mangy
for help. direction. food
at last on showed her to hunt. beg. steal.

soon

she searched in vain
for a safe place to raise young
finally settling on a run-down barn
in a run-down field
behind your run-down house

when the kittens were three weeks old a
group of boys came and
entertained themselves by
seeing if kittens can
swim in the nearby stream

you

yelled at them
not for torture
but rather petty trespassing
running away in fright
they clean forgot about the kittens

she

unable to rescue her children
watched to the very end
then slowly returned to her barn
stood outside and
wailed

you

never able to stand cats
grew steadily annoyed
watching your favourite TV show!
why won’t that darned cat
just shut up!

she

bemoaning the loss of her first litter
howled like the end of the world
at least for her
you made sure it was

you

in your run-down house
staring at the hole in the wall

say

“I meant to get that brick stuck down
anyway
tomorrow
I will see if I can find it
again”

tomorrow
will be far too late
for your ex-neighbours’-cat

far away

your ex-neighbours
listening to their dog howl
decide
“it is time
we moved again”