Pepper Poem by John Bliven Morin

A pair of tiny orphans
in the den their mother made,
in the forest by the lake,
in the tall grass, in the shade.

I brought food and water
to the tiny kits each day.
but they wouldn't show their faces
till I was on my way.

In time they learned to trust me
to timidly play games
one black-furred, one white
Salt and Pepper were their names.

Like his mum, little Salt
was killed by a passing car
Pepper and I became quite close
A year longer shone her star

When she would see me coming
Pepper would run so fast
right up my body to my neck
and there to rest at last.

Her legs down the front of me
Her body toward the rear
her little nose pressed snugly in,
purring happily in my ear.

I could walk about the forest
wearing her like a stole,
and she was quite content to ride
In fact, it seemed her goal.

One day Pepper never came,
Nor ever after that;
The lives of forest souls are short;
I miss that loving cat.