The Stray Cat
Around that lonely house by the hill
The stray cat prowls through
His eyes glowing like meteors in the dark
And his fur's fawn rough
The stray cat strolls to the casement
Meowing for succour
The owner-occupier sneaks with a rod
Ready to hit the eerie animal
But the stray cat's glowing eyes meet her
She lifts her rod, ready to hit
The stray cat runs away
The owner-occupier starts to scream:
"I had said goodbye to you
When I left for two days
You ate my chicks
And cleared my milk
So I punished you;
Abandoned you for only four days
And divested you from my meals
You again ate my chicks and cleared my milk
Hah! I threw you to the forest
People told me you're feral,
That a pet like you should be killed
I spared your life but threw you away
Now you're here to eat my chicks and drink my milk"
The stray cat arrives again, chirruping, weak, desolate
And by the casement he meows
The owner-occupier sneaks with a rod, ready to hit
But this time, the owner-occupier retreats
Looks him benignantly
His furs are unkempt-straggly
Reminiscence of his tender age builds
He was good then, not wild
She kinds, calls him "Kitty"
But the stray cat only hisses, running back
She throws him meat, and he takes
So she runs to welcome him
But the stray cat looks miffed, his tail flickers for violence
Paws and claws in the air, ready!
The owner-occupier is displeased, she screams:
"How should one show sympathy?
I give you my meal but you still reject me
Go back to the forest, you ferral!
I've with me rabbits and parrot"
And the stray cat runs away
Two weeks, one month, everyday
The stray cat returns, take his meal, and go way
Eight months, he takes his meals and hide under the rabbitry
He plays with insects in the courtyard
He sneaks in the dawn
He hides under the chair
Owner-occupier is happy, "Kitty is back. I own him"
And she tiptoes to touch him
But the stray cat growls, ready to run
So she's fed up
"He is as elusive as a butterfly
Have your damned meal and get the hell out of me"
One year;
He rests in the sofa
Jumps to the cupboard
Chase rats and insects in the house
So the owner-occupier tries again: "Here, Kitty!"
He chirrups, tail flickers.
And she thinks: if I touch him, he runs away
One day, she heard him
The stray cat was purring close to her feet, in the bed
And she was as happy as a seagull in the sea
But she still feared to touch him, 'cause he'll leave
Until he came and rested on her arms, peacefully.
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